A spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin promised that President Donald Trump will talk to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell about considering a comprehensive economic relief/stimulus bill if the White House and Democrats come to an agreement.
Drew Hammill, the deputy chief of staff for Pelosi, issued a series of three Twitter posts Thursday describing an 82-minute phone call between his boss and Mnuchin, during which the secretary supposedly agreed to the Democrats’ wording on a ''national strategic testing plan'' for the novel coronavirus.
''The Speaker also raised Leader McConnell’s comments today about not being willing to put a comprehensive package on the Senate floor,'' Hammill wrote. ''The Secretary indicated that the President would weigh in with Leader McConnell should an agreement be reached.''
Hammill said Pelosi referenced Trump’s Tuesday Twitter post in which he wrote: ''STIMULUS! Go big or go home!!!
The Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate have been at odds for months over a second comprehensive relief package.
The Democrats originally demanded a $3.4 trillion package of benefits, while the Republicans initially offered a much more targeted proposal of $1 trillion.
The White House has offered a $1.8 trillion package in its most recent proposal while the House Democrats have revised their offer to $2.2 trillion. Elements of the previous package – such as enhanced unemployment benefits – expired at the end of July.
McConnell reiterated his position on Thursday, telling local reporters in Kentucky that he won't call for a vote on a bill anywhere near the amount Pelosi and Mnuchin are discussing.
"That’s where the administration is willing to go," McConnell said, according to TheHill.com. "My members think half a trillion dollars, highly targeted, is the best way to go."
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