House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is putting a price tag on the next coronavirus relief package as Democrats and Republicans are struggling to reach an agreement.
Pelosi was asked by CNN’s Manu Raju if she has any idea of how much should would be willing to settle for.
“Yeah, $3.4 trillion,” Pelosi said.
She was then asked if it is possible to reach a deal this week.
“At some point you just have to freeze the design. We are just right now identifying the justification for what we’re saying it costs — how the money would be spent,” Pelosi said.
She added, “And we’re asking the same for some of the things they are talking about, so that we have a clear understanding. So it’s productive in that regard.”
New – Pelosi told me she still wants a stimulus deal this week.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) August 4, 2020
Asked if she has an idea on the price tag she's willing to settle for, Pelosi said: “Yeah, $3.4 trillion." Asked if it’s feasible to get a deal this week, she said: “At some point you just have to freeze the design."
Enhanced unemployment benefits of $600 per week have been the focus of negotiations as they expired on Friday.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows indicated on Tuesday little progress has been made, as IJR previously reported.
Mnuchin said the Trump administration will consider executive action if a deal is not reached in the near future.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters on Capitol Hill he would be willing to support any deal settled between the Trump administration and Democrats, as IJR previously reported.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have slammed Republicans for their unwillingness to compromise.
Pelosi argued on Sunday Republicans have failed to put forth a proposal both sides can agree on.
Schumer said on Tuesday Republicans’ focus on cutting unemployment benefits is “unacceptable.”
Even with an agreement on enhanced unemployment benefits, Democrats and Republicans are still faced with other obstacles including whether to extend a moratorium on housing evictions and a demand from the Democrats for around $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments.
