$600 Checks Now on the Table as COVID-19 Relief Negotiations Continue
Americans could see another direct payment of $600 per person ($1200 per couple) in the Trump administration’s latest COVID-19 package as part of a $916 billion pandemic relief proposal to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In comparison to the March coronavirus relief bill, this new proposal – announced by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin late Tuesday – represents just half the payment delivered at the start of the pandemic.
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Notably, the effort does not include a weekly $300 jobless benefit supported by a bipartisan group. Democrats and Republicans, hoping to deliver a second round of aid soon, are still trying to reach an agreement as the close of 2020 draws near.
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In response, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) issued a statement noting the fresh offer demonstrated progress, but they’d prefer to let bipartisan Congressional talks continue. In particular, they cited the package’s dramatic drop in proposed funds for employment benefits.
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Hoping to rally lawmakers on both sides, the bipartisan group supports a $908 billion package that includes a weekly $300 jobless benefit plus $160 billion in aid for local and state governments, a top priority for Dems. While it doesn’t come close to what House Democrats ideally want, it’s a more substantial offer than the GOP proposal.
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These ongoing COVID-19 relief negotiations are being hit from all sides, further complicating the talks and delaying a second coronavirus aid package. With Mnuchin’s latest offer, ever-changing White House mandates, and separate bipartisan discussions, all sides face intense pressure to come to some kind of agreement before the end of the year.
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