Virus relief agreement ‘a long ways away’ as urgency grows
WASHINGTON — Frustrated Senate Republicans renewed their complaints that Democratic negotiators are staking too hard a line in talks on a sweeping coronavirus relief bill, but pressure is mounting for progress as COVID-weary senators are eager to return to their home states for the August recess.
More negotiations held Tuesday.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “is prepared to make a few proposals that hopefully will be met with enthusiasm, and yet we’re a long ways away from, from striking any kind of a deal,” said White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
One glimmer of hope emerged as a key Senate Republican telegraphed that the party may yield to Democrats on an increase in the food stamp benefit as part of the huge rescue measure, which promises to far exceed a $1 trillion target set by the GOP.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said Tuesday that “you can make an argument that we need some kind of an increase” in food stamps and that he has raised the topic with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Roberts added that an agreement on that issue could lead to further overall progress on the legislation, which remains stalled despite days of Capitol negotiations.
“They are taking a look at it, and I think we can get a positive result,” he said. “If we can get a breakthrough on that, it could lead to some other stuff.”
The food stamp issue — left out of earlier relief bills — is a top priority for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi among other powerful Democrats, who have were passed a 15% increase in the food stamp benefit as part of their $3.5 trillion coronavirus relief bill.
The overall talks are going slowly, though urgency is growing among Senate Republicans, several of whom face tough election races and are eager to deliver a bill before heading home to campaign.
Sen. John Cornyn, RTexas, said this week that the chamber should not go on recess without passing the huge relief measure, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., offered a jobless benefit proposal that’s more generous than a pending GOP alternative. Both are facing closerthan-hoped reelection bids in states that should be easy holds for Republicans.
Multiple obstacles remain, including an impasse on extending the $600-perweek pandemic jobless benefit, funding for the U.S. Postal Service and aid to renters facing eviction.
Democratic negotiators spoke of progress after meeting with administration officials Monday, but Republicans remain privately pessimistic.
Neither side has budged from their positions, with Democrats demanding an extension of the $600-perweek supplemental unemployment benefit that’s credited with propping up the economy. Republicans have yet to offer any aid to states to prevent furloughs, layoffs and cuts to services. Both will have to compromise before a deal can be reached.
“The $600 unemployment insurance benefit is essential because there are no jobs to go back to,” the House Democratic Caucus chairman, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, said Tuesday on MSNBC. “We’ve got to help out everyday Americans. That’s a line in the sand.”
The benefit lapsed last week. Pelosi, D-Calif., wants to extend it through January at a $400 billionplus cost, while Republicans are proposing an immediate cut to $200 and then replacing the benefit with a cumbersome system that would attempt to provide 70% of a worker’s “replacement wage.”
McConnell, R-Ky., continued to protest that Democrats are taking too tough a line. But he signaled he’s more flexible now than weeks ago.
“Wherever this thing settles between the president and the Democrats is something I am prepared to support even if I have some problems with certain parts of it,” he said.