The Democrats’ congressional leaders are largely working with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin — and not Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., — in an attempt to reach a deal to provide $251 billion in new funding for small businesses, hospitals and state governments.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are trying to block out McConnell from the deal, according to The Hill.
They believe President Donald Trump will be eager for the deal when funding for the Paycheck Protection Program is projected to expire Thursday. They believe that if Trump agrees to extend the deal, McConnell and GOP lawmakers will go along with the add-ons.
“There’s already the uncertainty about this program and it’s discouraging people from applying,” said a GOP aide. “The closer we let it go to banks not accepting applications, the worse it gets. There’s a sense of urgency. It’s just a matter of what’s going to be demanded to get it across the finish line.”
Both Schumer and Pelosi view Mnuchin as a more sympathetic negotiator and prefer to work with him over McConnell, The Hill said.
Ford O’Connell, a Republican strategist, said Democrats “think they have leverage on the president because they’re going to say he’s in charge of the economy.”
“At the same time, if you’re Trump and you bow to all of their demands, their demands are only going to get bigger.”
And House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said Tuesday the Democrats shouldn’t be playing “games” while working on coronavirus relief bills.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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