Pelosi Expresses New Hope Deal Can Be Reached With White House on Stimulus Bill

Jack Phillips
By Jack Phillips
September 28, 2020Politics
share
Pelosi Expresses New Hope Deal Can Be Reached With White House on Stimulus Bill
In this screengrab Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi participates in Supercharge: Women All In, a virtual day of action hosted by Supermajority, on Sept. 26, 2020. (Getty Images/Getty Images for Supermajority)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) expressed the hope that a deal could be made between top Democrats and the White House on economic relief measures to curb losses suffered during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak.

“We are having our conversations. And when I have a conversation with the administration, it is in good faith,” Pelosi said on CNN over the weekend. The speaker said she hopes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin can come up with a plan to “reach a solution” with Democrats, saying, “I believe we can come to an agreement.”

After Democrats and the White House came to an impasse in early August over how much to spend and what aspects of the economy need assistance, there has been mounting pressure on Pelosi from moderate House Democrats.

Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers proposed a $1.5 trillion deal that would include stimulus checks, $450-per-week unemployment benefits, and $500 billion in funding for state and local governments. It came after Democrats in May passed their $3.4 trillion HEROES Act in the House, which included over $900 billion in state and local funding and an extension of the $600-per-week unemployment benefits. Republicans in the Senate said they will not approve the measure, while the White House has indicated they would veto the bill.

Formal talks between Mnuchin, Pelosi, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have not restarted, and it’s unclear when they will occur again. Mnuchin and Pelosi have indicated they are speaking about the measures over the phone.

Pelosi on Sunday told CNN that it was “definitely a possibility” that she would offer a bill if the impasse continued, although she said she would rather have a deal with the White House. The Trump administration and Mnuchin have signaled they will not pass a $2.2 trillion or $2.4 trillion measure, as Democrats have suggested in recent weeks.

Trump Meets With Cabinet Members, Members Of Congress On Stimulus Payments
President Donald Trump talks to reporters while hosting (2nd L-R) Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Republican congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House on July 20, 2020. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

“However, at some point, the public is going to have to see why $2.2 or now $2.4 trillion dollars is necessary,” Pelosi added in the interview, arguing that since the last pandemic stimulus measure was passed months ago, more aid is required. “So we may need more money than that,” she said. “And we will reveal what that is in a short period of time.”

White House adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters over the weekend that the administration won’t support a bill of that size.

“I’d like to say we are making great progress, but I can’t yet,” Kudlow later said. “I can’t get ahead of that curve, it’s not happening.” He pointed to recent improvements in the U.S. job market after months of unemployment spikes.

Senate Republicans this month failed to advance a $500 billion stimulus package over Democratic objections that it didn’t do enough. The bill did not include funding to state and local governments, food assistance, and stimulus checks, among other measures.

“I think we have a chance to get something done and we want to,” Pelosi told CNN. “What we will be putting forth is an offer to say, now let us negotiate within a time frame and a dollar amount to get the job done to put money in people’s pockets, to honor our heroes and to crush the virus.”

From The Epoch Times

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments