OPTIMISM BUILDING FOR COVID RELIEF PACKAGE; HARRIS CHOOSES CHIEF OF STAFF

WASHINGTON — Optimism about delivering long- sought COVID- 19 relief is building on Capitol Hill after additional rank- and- file lawmakers voiced support for a bipartisan, middle- of- the- road plan taking shape in the Senate and as top congressional leaders connected on the topic for the first time in months.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — frequent rivals but proven dealmakers — spoke on the phone Thursday, a conversation that came the day after Pelosi signaled a willingness to make major concessions in search of a COVID rescue package in the $ 1 trillion range.

Pelosi’s spokesman announced the telephone conversation, tweeting that it was “about their shared commitment to completing an omnibus and COVID relief as soon as possible.”

“We had a good conversation. I think we’re both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package,” McConnell said.

Some conservatives, including Republicans from COVID hot spots like North Dakota and Iowa, said they were comfortable with an aid package carrying the almost $ 1 trillion price tag. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R- N. D., said the bipartisan plan is “the right balance of compromise and it’s a number that’s doable.”

Added Lindsey Graham, R- S. C.: “There’s a bipartisan package for $ 908 billion that will really help people.”

The path forward is cluttered with obstacles, however, including a tight time window and hard feelings from months of futile talks and a poisonous election. But the $ 908 billion cost is what many Republicans, McConnell included, signaled they were willing to accept this summer.

McConnell, R- Ky., his leverage bolstered after the election, continues to take a hard line, insisting in a Thursday floor speech that any relief package be limited to consensus items like another round of “paycheck protection” aid to businesses, funding to distribute vaccines, and aid to schools.