McConnell Foresees Next Virus Relief Bill in January

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated Friday that he expects to see a coronavirus relief bill at the start of 2021.

The Kentucky Republican was on "The Hugh Hewitt Show" and was asked about the status of legislation to help Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think we need to make a careful, calculated decision about what more to do to deal with this coronavirus," McConnell said. "We're throwing money at the search for a vaccine, which is the wise thing to do. We probably need to do another package, certainly more modest than the $3 trillion [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi package. I think that'll be something we'll need to do right at the beginning of the year."

McConnell added that the bill could micro-target a slice of the economy, rather than a broad swath of people.

"We could target it particularly at small businesses that are struggling, and hospitals that are now dealing with the second wave of the coronavirus, and of course the challenges for education, both K-12 and college," he said.

McConnell noted that the Paycheck Protection Program, which doled out forgivable loans to businesses nationwide, "does need to be replenished, and that's why we need to do another rescue package."

Pelosi and the Democrats have yet to come to an agreement with the White House on what should be in the virus relief bill after months of back and forth.

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