Mnuchin sees ‘progress’ in Congressional stimulus talks

President Donald Trump’s top negotiator on COVID-19 financial aid reported headway Thursday on a $900 billionplus plan, citing similarities between the latest administration offer and an emerging measure from a bipartisan group of senators.

“I have had a bunch of conversations. I spoke to senators on both sides last night, this morning,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. “We had a very productive call yesterday with a lot of people. So I think we’re making a lot of progress.”

But a one-week extension of a potential government shutdown appears to have sapped some urgency from the talks. The only mustpass measure this week is the short-term governmentwide funding bill, which was approved by the House on Wednesday and needs to clear the Senate by Friday to avert a partial closure.

That measure would give lawmakers more time to sort through the mess they created with months of fighting and posturing on pandemic aid. Deadlines, real and perceived, haven’t been sufficient to drive

Washington’s factions to an agreement. Both House and Senate leaders say they won’t adjourn without passing an aid measure.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is sending lawmakers home with no set schedule for their return, said Congress would keep working up to or even after Christmas to get an agreement. The new Congress is being sworn in on Jan. 3.

“Now if we need more time then we take more time, but we have to have a bill and we cannot go home without it,” Pelosi said Thursday. She also gave an upbeat assessment on the talks.