Pelosi stays firm on coronavirus relief as a few Democrats urge compromise – By Lindsey McPherson (Roll Call) / Oct 12 2020
Khanna is first progressive to urge Pelosi to cut a deal below Democrats’ $2.2 trillion plan
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to keep her caucus together as she holds out for a better coronavirus relief package than the Trump administration’s latest $1.8 trillion proposal, but some Democrats are growing impatient as the window to enact a law before the Nov. 3 election closes.
“We’re in a place that we should be able to cut a deal,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told CQ Roll Call in an interview.
Khanna said Democrats should be able to accept most of what’s in the $1.8 trillion offer Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made to Pelosi on Friday because it provides at least some relief in all the key areas they have been pushing. The offer includes $300 billion for state and local governments, $400 per week in federal unemployment benefits into January, $60 billion for rental and mortgage assistance, $28 billion in student loan relief and $15 billion in food assistance.
“We have a moral obligation to do something,” Khanna, a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said. “We are the party that stands for the working poor.”
Continue to article> https://rollcall.com/2020/10/12/pelosi-stays-firm-on-coronavirus-relief-as-a-few-democrats-urge-compromise/
