August 11, 2020

Republicans, Democrats hope for COVID-19 relief bill this week

Democratic and White House negotiators have yet to resume talks Monday toward finding an agreement on the next round COVID-19 relief, but both sides are hopeful for a deal this week.

For days last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer discussed a compromise with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on a stimulus bill, which is expected to include another direct payment to Americans.

The House and Senate have proposed differing measures and the negotiators are hoping to meet somewhere in the middle. Mnuchin and Meadows are negotiating for Senate Republicans.

Monday, Mnuchin said the Trump administration wants to resume negotiations with Democrats and is willing to offer more spending.

"The president is determined to spend what we need to spend," he told CNBC. "We're prepared to put more money on the table."

Talks broke down Friday without a deal. Democrats have asked for spending of at least $3 trillion -- including funds to help states with relief aid -- while Republicans have countered with proposals worth about $1 trillion.

Monday, Mnuchin said Democrats appear more "willing to compromise" after talks failed throughout last week.

"If we can get a fair deal, we're willing to do it this week," he said.

Friday, Pelosi said Democrats were willing to cut their proposal by $1 trillion if Republicans added $1 trillion to theirs. She said the offer was rejected by the White House.

"They said absolutely not," she said.

Mnuchin and Meadows disputed that Democrats offered to cut $1 trillion from their proposal, and said they were insistent on reviving enhanced federal unemployment benefits of $600 per week throughout 2020. That benefit expired late last month.

In the absence of a deal, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders over the weekend, including a measure for a $400 weekly enhanced payment. The others covered eviction protections, student loan relief and a payroll tax deferral.

Monday, Schumer called Trump's orders "unworkable, weak and far too narrow."

"They have to meet us in the middle," he told CNBC. "They just can't come to the table and say, 'It's my way or the highway.'"

Both sides have expressed confidence that a deal will be done soon, but neither speculated how soon.

*-- More Conservative News, Views & Values --*

Trump signs executive orders on unemployment, payroll tax, evictions
President Donald Trump signed several executive orders Saturday, including an order to provide an extra $400 in weekly unemployment aid to those whose $600 weekly benefits expired in July as well as eviction protections and student loan relief. A fourth executive order would defer payroll tax payments for people who earn less than $100,000. It would take effect retroactively and continue through...

To continue reading this article please Click Here.


Trump admin increases efforts to bar Chinese access to U.S. data
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday the United States is increasing its efforts to prevent China from accessing the private data of Americans, stating they will work to remove Chinese-based smartphone applications such as TikTok from the U.S. market as they pose "significant threats." In a press availability in Washington D.C., the United States' top diplomat said he was expanding...

To continue reading this article please Click Here.