McConnell rejects bipartisan Covid relief plan while House adjourns until next week

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/10/coronavirus-stimulus-update-congress-fights-over-relief-bill.html

Published Thu, Dec 10 2020,  12:55 PM EST  Updated Thu, Dec 10 20205:07 PM EST
Jacob Pramuk

Few signs of progress toward a coronavirus relief deal emerged Thursday as Congress inches closer to letting millions of Americans fall deeper into financial peril.

They will have to wait longer for Washington to figure out how to help them. After votes Thursday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told representatives the chamber would adjourn until at least Tuesday pending an agreement on pandemic aid and full-year government funding.

The House’s move to end work for the week came as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s staff informed congressional leadership offices that Senate Republicans likely would not support a $908 billion bipartisan proposal, according to NBC News. Politico first reported the Kentucky Republican’s plan to brush aside the plan, which members of his caucus have helped to craft.

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On Thursday, Democrats again endorsed the bipartisan talks. Those discussions, however, still have not yielded legislation as lawmakers finalize provisions related to state and local government relief and GOP-backed legal immunity for businesses. NBC News reported that the group agreed Thursday afternoon on how to distribute $160 billion in state and local funds, but has not resolved questions about legal immunity.

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The lack of an immediate cash injection has led many progressives and some Republicans in Congress to criticize the proposal as inadequate to address the needs of struggling Americans. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a bill Thursday to provide another round of $1,200 stimulus payments.

“Families are lining up for miles at food banks and millions could soon be evicted,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., tweeted Thursday. “Any package must put money in people’s pockets.”The lack of an immediate cash injection has led many progressives and some Republicans in Congress to criticize the proposal as inadequate to address the needs of struggling Americans. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a bill Thursday to provide another round of $1,200 stimulus payments.

“Families are lining up for miles at food banks and millions could soon be evicted,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., tweeted Thursday. “Any package must put money in people’s pockets.”

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