House Democrats introduced a new $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill as a follow-up to the bill passed in May that republicans have refused to take up in the Senate, Roll Call reports.
The new bill cuts the cost of the relief package proposed by Democrats by $1.2 trillion versus what was passed earlier in the year. The White House has stated it would not approve any bill over $1.5 trillion, which would mean the Trump Administration would go into the election without a plan to help tens of millions of Americans facing financial hardship as a second wave of the coronavirus is expected.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been ineffective in leading his caucus to a consensus.
The Democratic legislation includes a one-time payment of $1,200 per adult and additional small business loans to support local economies. The bill cuts in half, to $436 billion, the amount of financial aid to state, county and local governments which have experienced a loss of tax revenue during the economic downturn.
The White House has fought any aid to local governments, saying that it is simply pork to fund “blue cities” which Trump has claimed are mismanaged. The Democratic legislation, however, does not limit the aid to just jurisdiction run by Democrats, undermining Trump’s claims.