Trump Is Willing to Go Beyond $1.8 Trillion to Reach a Stimulus Deal
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that President Donald Trump is willing to go beyond $1.8 trillion to reach a stimulus deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up during a campaign rally at Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.
Trump and his administration have long been asking for another round of stimulus package since the CARES Act expired last July. His top negotiators have also been in a series of talks with the Democratic stimulus negotiators.
The White House recently proposed a $1.8 trillion stimulus package that includes $1,200 direct stimulus checks, PPP loans, increased dependent payments, state and local funding, and more. However, Pelosi did not accept the amount because she once again disagreed.
In his Twitter account early Thursday morning, Trump wrote: "Nancy Pelosi couldn't care less about the American People or the great American Worker. She should approve needed STIMULUS now. Most other Dems agree. Republicans are ready to go, I am ready to sign!!!"
Both parties want to strike the deal before the election, most especially the vulnerable Democrats. They do not want voters to penalize them during the election for not acting on the stimulus. That is why over 100 Democratic lawmakers wrote a letter to Pelosi to act on a stimulus deal.
Meanwhile, there is speculation that even if the $2.2 trillion or even a higher amount will be sealed between the White House and Pelosi's camp, lawmakers are quite skeptical that it will pass the Republican-dominated Senate.
It can be remembered that Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell already expressed his opposition on the higher amount. But Mnuchin told Pelosi on Thursday that if they reach a stimulus deal, the president will personally lobby to get the approvals of reluctant Republican lawmakers and McConnell. This is to make sure that it will be approved in the Senate.
According to a published report in Bloomberg, Mnuchin also told Pelosi through a call that the president would weigh in with leader McConnell should an agreement be reached. Pelosi's spokesperson Drew Hammill also tweeted this significant development.
McConnell also said that Trump is talking about the amount that he can lobby or sell to his members in the Senate. If Trump would raise the amount to $2.2 trillion or even higher and then Pelosi will ask again for a larger amount, it is very clear that Pelosi is just playing politics right from the beginning of the second stimulus negotiation.
The call between Mnuchin and Pelosi lasted for 82 minutes, and he told Pelosi that he accepted Pelosi's demand for a national testing plan with minor modifications to be discussed on Friday, according to Pelosi's spokesperson.
McConnell earlier said that the Senate is scheduled to vote over a new skinny bill next week. The $500 billion skinny bill includes direct stimulus checks, financial support for small businesses, funding for airline industries, and more.
There could be some developments, with a new stimulus package or a skinny bill with bipartisan support that could be signed into law in the coming days.