Trump seeks to resume talks on Kovid-relief package after previously halting talks

Following the abrupt termination of negotiations with the Democrats early last week, President Donald Trump on Friday increased the GOP proposal to $ 1.8 trillion, $ 200 billion compared to the previous offer, in an attempt to reach an agreement sooner rather than later.

“Kovid relief talks are going on. Go big!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday.

It is unclear whether Senate Republicans, led by Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, are ready to pass the bill.

At an event Friday in Kentucky“Before Trump’s new bid, before the election,” a deal is unlikely in the next three weeks, “McConnell said.

Uncertainty leaves states like Nevada, which is on a virtual stand as a result of the epidemic caused by the tourism and entertainment industries, without help for a predictable future.

Congress passed the $ 2.2 trillion case law in March, but funding is dwindling and a number of regulations have expired, including a $ 600 bonus payment per week for collectors of unemployment insurance benefits. Nevada reported a The unemployment rate in August was 13.2 percent. The National unemployment rate It was 7.9 percent in September.

“I hear from thousands of Nevadans trying to stay awake at night and learn how to pay their rent, how to feed their children, and how to care for high-risk family members from COVID-19.” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto After Trump initially withdrew from the talks. “We can’t wait.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell Last week it also called on Congress to provide another economic stimulus package for fear that the economy would pick up momentum.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that she was hopeful the deal could be struck. “It has to happen because I’m hopeful,” Pelosi said.

Her spokeswoman Drew Hamil said Friday that the new White House bill did not include a satisfactory virus eradication plan.

“Of particular concern is the lack of agreement on a strategic plan to suppress the virus.” Hamil wrote on Twitter. “For these and other terms, we are still waiting for the language from the administration as negotiations on the total funding amount continue.”

With care in shaping the elections in a few weeks and what can be said to be a victory for their source voters, both parties have differences on the basic areas of the package, i.e. how much assistance should be provided and how it should be spent.

Both the House and the Senate held no roll call votes last week.

Stop negotiations

Before re-engaging the Democrats with the new offer, Trump announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he was withdrawing talks between Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Munuchin. His tweet came shortly after his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he was treated for COVID-19, raising questions about He should be discharged And level He is a danger to others.

“As soon as I won, I instructed my delegates to stop negotiating until after the election, after passing a major stimulus bill focusing on hard-working Americans and small business.” Trump said

In recent weeks, both sides have been able to reduce the difference in the top line spending levels that each supports. The House Democrats recently approved a $ 2.2 trillion package earlier this month, their initial proposal of $ 3 trillion. The White House has already proposed a $ 6.16 trillion plan, which is $ 100 million more than they were before the last round of talks broke down in August.

Trump has been criticized for echoing complaints from other Republicans, including the Democrats bill McCannell, There are many other additional terms in the house package.

House Democratic Bill “Poor driving, high crime, money in Democrat States, COVID-19,” Trump said.

The regulations, called by Republicans, include a provision that allows unregistered individuals to receive assistance and removes the $ 10,000-a-year limit on state and local taxes (SALT) from federal taxes. The SALT cap was imposed by the Republicans and Trump through the 2017 tax reform law and severely hurt taxpayers in high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California, which have Democratic governors.

McConnell told reporters Tuesday that he supports Trump’s decision. “His view is that they do not work, and we need to focus on what we can achieve,” McConnell said of Trump’s move to halt the talks.

Some Republicans, such as Maine Senator Susan Collins, who has been on a difficult re-election campaign, have distanced themselves from the Trump move. Collins called it “Huge mistake. ”

During the thread-ending talks, Trump went back to his previous position and asked Congress to pass parts of the bill one by one. Another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks. He called for the repayment of unused funds from the final package, the 2.2 trillion cases law.

“$ 25 billion for House & Senate airline payroll support, and $ 135 billion for paycheck protection program for small business to be approved immediately.” Trump said. “Both of these will be paid in full with unused funds from the Cares Act. This is money. I will sign now! ”

Democrats

Pelosi, on Thursday, rejected the idea of ​​a peacemeal approach, as it had done when the White House put forward the idea in the past.

She argued that it was not appropriate to accept an independent measure for a group.

“If he wants to wait after the election, it’s unfortunate that more people will die, more people will be infected, more children will be uncertain about how they will learn, more children will go without food … again” more people have been removed from our state and local government ” Pelosi said. “So every day of delay is a problem.”

She also ruled out the possibility of voting on an independent measure to provide assistance to airlines that have laid off thousands of workers as demand for air travel has plummeted, with no guarantee of passing a comprehensive pandemic relief bill.

The opportunity for Congress to deal with the dismissals by passing a funding law was likely early last week.

A state congressional delegation in a recent letter to House and Senate leaders called for the expansion of the Payroll Support Program (PSP) to help speed up recovery in Nevada. Established under the CARES Act, the PSP is designed to prevent layoffs in the aviation industry, but the program ended earlier this month and as a result, several airlines have announced layoffs.

Democrats reacted strongly after Trump’s announcement. In a call with House Democrats on Tuesday, Pelosi, citing side effects The reason for Trump’s decision to end the talks is from the steroid dexamethasone the president received. Side effects include mood swings and “Frank Psychotic Expressions,” According to The Washington Post.

All of Nevada’s congressional Democrats have criticized the president.

“President Trump has announced his intention to hold talks on the relief bill until the end of election day.” Republican Dina Titus said on Twitter. “People in Las Vegas are suffering right now without their own fault and they can’t wait.”

Scotus

Instead of continuing pandemic aid talks, Trump urged Senate Republicans to focus on certifying his Supreme Court nominee, Amy Connie Barrett.

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings begin Monday and continue throughout the week. Some members are set to appear remote.

The Senate planned to be in session last week, but McConnell canceled the votes To help prevent the Senate from getting infected with the Republican virus, it will delay Barrett’s confirmation vote on the Senate floor ahead of next month’s election.

Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both serving on the Judiciary Panel and attending the White House event announcing Barrett’s nomination for appearing to be spreading the virus.

Thirty-four people, Including guests at the event and others who contacted Trump during the recent presidential debate have so far fallen ill.

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson also recently announced that he had the virus, but vowed to vote for Barrett. In “Moon Suite” Voting day comes if he still has the virus. Republicans control 53 votes in the Senate.

When asked if he had recently gone to the White House, McConnell, who encouraged his colleagues to wear masks and maintain social distance, said he was not.

“I have not been to the White House since August 6.” He told reporters on Thursday. “In my opinion, their approach to how to handle this is different from mine, and I suggest doing so in the Senate is to wear a mask and practice social distance.”

For a complete reduction of actions supported or opposed by delegates this week, see The Nevada IndependentCongress vote tracker and other information below.

SEN. Catherine Cortez Masto

Act co-sponsored by:

The. 3517 – Improving connectivity during coronavirus to ensure support for Seniors Act or Access Act

Its. Jackie Rosen
Act co-sponsored by:

The. 3517 – Improving connectivity during coronavirus to ensure support for Seniors Act or Access Act