Members of both parties are lining up to push through a second coronavirus relief bill through the Senate before the Senate session ends, with proposals including extended unemployment relief and a $600 stimulus check for each American, the Washington Post reports.
While the Democratic-led House passed a second round of relief back in May, the Republican-majority Senate has refused to consider any coronavirus aid to Americans. Since the election, a bipartisan group of Senators has proposed a compromise bill, which Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to support.
The new proposal splits out financial aid to states and municipalities which are strained because of lost tax revenue. That will be part of a separate bill, but that money will be used to fund $600 stimulus checks while still keeping the overall cost of the aid package under $1 trillion, an arbitrary line set by far-right Republicans.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a meeting with House and Senate leaders of both parties, which insiders described as productive.
In the Senate, Missouri Republican Josh Hawley and Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders threaten to block necessary legislation to fund the government if stimulus payments were not included in any upcoming relief package.
A potential stumbling block to any legislation is the White House and lame duck president Donald Trump. Prior to the election, Trump promoted a relief package that was more expensive than the $2.4 trillion proposal supported by Democrats. Since he lost the election, however, he’s been silent about any aid package, and some fear he will delay signing any relief proposal while he’s in office.