Calling it a “values debate” versus a “dollars debate,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that negotiations for the next round of coronavirus relief are ongoing, but there are still significant differences between the two sides.
Speaking in a press conference during her weekly update on the progress, Pelosi said that Democrats are negotiating from the perspective of helping families of four making $40,000, whereas Treasury Secretary seems to be stuck on providing $150 billion to the top 1%.
Mnuchin proposed a $1.6 trillion package to counter the Democrats $2.2 trillion proposal. The biggest hurdle, Pelosi stated, was subsidies for health care: Democrats want to include funding in the bill, while republicans are planning on having the Affordable Care Act overturned during a November 10th Supreme Court hearing.
The Democrats’ plan also includes 50% more money for schools to fund remote learning and to prepare for reopening; coronavirus research and treatment development; and state/local government aid to make up for lost tax revenue.