Capitol Hill leaders make progress on Covid relief price tag, but policy disputes linger – By Sahil Kapur (NBC News) / Dec 3 2020
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, says he has “never been more hopeful that we’ll get a bill.”
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers are growing optimistic about a coronavirus relief deal as party leaders came together Thursday on a price tag after months of stalemate gave way to meaningful negotiations.
But lingering policy disputes remain, and leaders still hope to combine the Covid-19 relief into a government funding bill by the Dec. 11 deadline to avert a shutdown. The emerging package includes more unemployment aid but excludes another round of $1,200 direct payments.
A breakthrough came Wednesday when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., backed a $908 billion bipartisan measure as the basis for negotiations, lending support for a reduced price tag more palatable to Republicans than Democrats’ previous $2.2 trillion offer.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Thursday that he and Pelosi “had a good conversation,” adding, “I think we’re both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package.” The “omnibus” is a government funding bill designed to keep the government open until the next deadline.
