Dems, GOP joust over jobless benefit
WASHINGTON – The discussions over another stimulus package turned testy Friday as Democrats and Republicans each blamed the other for their inability to come to an agreement just hours before a $600 weekly unemployment benefit for Americans officially ends.
In dueling news conferences, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows laid into Democrats for rejecting a shortterm deal to continue the bolstered unemployment benefit for one week, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi railed against Republicans and the Trump administration for attempting to take a piecemeal approach as COVID-19 cases continue to surge nationally.
“What we’re seeing is politics as usual from Democrats up on Capitol Hill,” Meadows said from the White House podium. “The Democrats believe that they have all the cards on their side, and they’re willing to play those cards at the expense of those that are hurting.”
Pelosi, D-calif., criticized Republicans for waiting months before attempting to take up another emergency package, noting the surge of coronavirus cases and high unemployment rate.
“They do not understand the gravity of the situation,” she said of Republicans. “We don’t have shared values. That’s just the way it is.”
She argued a deal to extend the unemployment benefit by one week would only be meaningful if a larger bill was nearly worked out, noting the time it would take for the measure to pass and for money to reach families. Pelosi also said the Senate, which has remained divided on unemployment, likely would not have the votes to approve a continuation of the $600 weekly benefit, which bolsters state benefits.
Although the back-and-forth attacks signal a deal is still far off, both Meadows and Pelosi said they plan to meet again to continue talks.
Friday’s news conferences capped off a week filled with negotiations over another stimulus bill, talks that have all but stalled as Republicans are divided over what should be included in the measure and Democrats remain against a smaller bill to keep unemployment flowing for a short period.
On Thursday, Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for a lengthy meeting where they attempted once more to come to a deal.
Meadows said Democrats were given four separate offers throughout the day but rejected all of them.
“We’re going in the wrong direction. They’re going in the wrong direction because of partisan politics. It is very disappointing,” Meadows said. “It surprises me that when we talk about compassion and caring about those that truly are in need, that a temporary solution to make sure that unemployment, enhanced unemployment continues has been rejected not once but multiple times.”
House Democrats passed their version of the next stimulus package in May, a $3 trillion measure that would have extended the $600 boost in weekly unemployment compensation until at least January. The proposal has not been taken up by the Republican-held Senate.