Fight continues over virus relief
Negotiators push to seal a pre- holiday deal on a nearly $ 1- trillion COVID- 19 economic relief package.
A congressional shutdown is averted with a stopgap bill as negotiators pushed to seal the deal on an almost $ 1trillion economic relief package.
WASHINGTON — Congress swiftly passed a twoday stopgap spending bill Friday night, averting a partial government shutdown and buying time for frustratingly slow endgame negotiations on an almost $ 1- trillion COVID- 19 economic relief package.
The virus aid talks remain on track, both sides said, but closing out f inal disagreements is proving difficult.
The House passed the temporary funding bill by a 320- 60 vote as lawmakers headed for a Sunday session. The Senate approved the bill by voice vote almost immediately afterward, sending it to President Trump.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R- Ky.), said both sides remain intent on closing the deal, even as Democrats launched a concerted campaign to block an effort by Republicans to rein in emergency Federal Reserve lending powers. The Democrats said the GOP proposal would deprive President- elect Joe Biden of crucial tools to manage the economy.
It appeared unlikely that there would be a deal reached overnight, lawmakers and aides said.
Democrats came out swinging at a key obstacle: a provision by conservative Sen. Patrick J. Toomey ( RPa.) that would close down more than $ 400 billion in potential Federal Reserve lending powers established under a relief bill in March.
Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin is shutting down the programs at the end of December, but Toomey’s language would go further, barring the Fed from restarting the lending next year, and Democrats say the provision would tie Biden’s hands and put the economy at risk.
“As we navigate through an unprecedented economic crisis, it is in the interests of the American people to maintain the Fed’s ability to respond quickly and forcefully,” said Biden economic advisor Brian Deese. “Undermining that authority could mean less lending to Main Street businesses, higher unemployment and greater economic pain across the nation.”
The key Fed programs at issue provided loans to small and midsized businesses and bought state and local government bonds, making it easier for those governments to borrow at a time when their f inances are under pressure from the pandemic.
The Fed would need the support of the Treasury Department to restart the programs — which Biden’s Treasury secretary nominee, former Fed chair Janet Yellen, would likely provide. Treasury officials could also provide funds to backstop those programs without congressional approval and could ease the lending requirements. That could encourage more lending under the programs, which have seen limited use.
The battle obscured progress on other elements of the hoped- for agreement After being bogged down for much of Thursday, negotiators turned more optimistic, though the complexity of f inalizing the remaining issues and drafting agreements in precise legislative form was proving daunting.
The central elements appeared in place: more than $ 300 billion in aid to businesses; a $ 300- per- week bonus federal jobless benef it, and renewal of soon- toexpire state benefits; $ 600 direct payments to individuals; vaccine distribution funds; and money for renters, schools, the Postal Service and people needing food aid.
House lawmakers were told they wouldn’t have to report to work on Saturday but that a Sunday session was likely. The Senate will be voting on nominations on Saturday.
The pending bill is the f irst significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March, delivering $ 1.8 trillion in aid, more generous $ 600- per- week bonus jobless benefits and $ 1,200 direct payments to individuals.
The CARES legislation passed at a moment of great uncertainty and unprecedented shutdowns aimed at stopping the coronavirus, but many Republicans have since focused more on loosening social and economic restrictions as the key to recovery instead of more taxpayer- funded aid.
Now, Republicans are motivated chief ly to extend business subsidies and some jobless benefits, and to provide money for schools and vaccines. Democrats have focused on bigger economic stimulus measures and more help for those struggling economically during the pandemic.
The urgency was underscored Thursday by the weekly unemployment numbers, which revealed that 885,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week, the highest weekly total since September.
The emerging package falls well short of the $ 2- trillion- plus Democrats were demanding this fall before the election, but Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and help the jobless and poor.
While he says more economic stimulus will be needed early next year, some Republicans say the current package may be the last.
“If we address the critical needs right now, and things improve next year as the vaccine gets out there and the economy starts to pick up again, you know, there may be less of a need,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
Most economists, however, strongly support additional economic stimulus as necessary to keep businesses and households af loat through what is widely anticipated to be a tough winter. Many forecast the economy could shrink in the first three months of 2021 without more help. Standard & Poor’s said in a report Tuesday that the economy would be 1.5 percentage points smaller in 2021 without more aid.
The details were still being worked out, but the measure includes a second round of “paycheck protection” payments to especially hard- hit businesses, $ 25 billion to help struggling renters with their payments, $ 45 billion for airlines and transit systems, a temporary 15% or so increase in food stamp benefits, additional farm subsidies, and a $ 10- billion bailout for the Postal Service.
The emerging package would combine the $ 900 billion in COVID- 19 relief with a $ 1.4- trillion governmentwide funding bill. Then there are numerous unrelated add- ons that are catching a ride.
A key breakthrough occurred earlier this week when Democrats agreed to drop their much- sought $ 160- billion state and local government aid package in exchange for McConnell abandoning a liability shield for businesses and other institutions fearing COVID- 19 lawsuits.