President Trump said that he was open to extending federal subsidies for unemployment benefits, saying he wants to “get funds to people so they can live,” as White House and Democratic negotiators attempt to overcome wide chasms in their positions, the Washington Post reports.
In May, House Democrats passed a $3.5 trillion aid package that extends federal supplements for unemployment recipients, continues a moratorium on evictions, and provides vital financial assistance to state and local governments.
The Senate failed to pass a republican plan, with a $1 trillion price tag, that would have extended federal subsidies to unemployment at a lower rate but would have given employers blanket immunity from claims by workers exposed to the coronavirus at work.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has largely been excluded from these negotiations, with the White House working with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The White House has recently softened its position on unemployment benefits and eviction protections. The Trump Administration has dropped a demand for payroll tax cuts after the proposal found resistance with both Democrats and republicans in Congress.
“It’s hard. In some cases we’re inching along; in others we’re making more progress. But it takes time, and we’ll take more time tomorrow,” Pelosi said in a statement to the media.