McConnell Pushes Leaders to Restart COVID-19 Relief Negotiations
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging the White House and Democrat leaders to resume the COVID-19 relief negotiations on Tuesday as talks about the COVID-19 relief collapsed last week.
McConnell said that everyone should get back to the table, although the senate leader gave no indication that he would reach out to Democratic leaders himself.
"The stalemate needs to be ended. It doesn't make any difference who says let's get together again, but we ought to get together again," McConnell was quoted in a report.
McConnell said there has not been a meeting of any consequences between the two parties since last Friday. He added that it has been too long and time to sit down and reach an agreement.
COVID-19 relief negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Charles Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was put into pause on Friday.
This after around two weeks of daily talks, which resulted in little progress.
Pelosi told reporters on Tuesday that she had not heard from Mnuchin or Meadows.
She added that their differences are vast.
When asked if there will be updates this week, Pelosi answered by saying that she hopes so and they will see.
Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said that they are "pessimistic about going back to negotiations."
The two parties have been passing the blame over for the past two days.
Schumer said that he made it clear that the reason talks have been postponed was because the White House made it clear that it would be their way.
They were unwilling to meet us in the middle. They said that in the room," Schumer said.
Schumer added that Democrats are willing to compromise. But the Republicans are being intransigent and will not move from their position.
Schumer also criticized the executive orders issued by Trump, saying that it was a bunch of unworkable orders.
Unemployment Benefit
The Congress did not pass a COVID-19 relief package last month before the expiration of the $600 per week enhanced federal unemployment benefit.
Democrats and Republicans have different views on how they want to spend to fight the pandemic.
Aside from unemployment benefits, they also failed to pass an aid for state and local governments, money to reopen schools, and funding for the U.S. Postal Service.
The two parties failed to provide a funding for the U.S. Postal Service during a time where Americans will cast their ballots through mail-in voting.
Stimulus Checks
There are several dates forecasted when the second round of stimulus checks would be released. All depends on the likelihood of the House and Senate on reaching an agreement.
Reports said that it could be passed by Aug. 7 or Aug. 10, which have now passed, if the House and Senate choose to extend their current session length.
However, if the Senate passes the bill on second stimulus checks on Sept. 8, this could be sent by the week of Sept. 21.
This considering the president has signed the passage on Sept. 10 or Sept. 11.
Asking if you are among the first people to receive the second stimulus check is a different story as it uses different calculations and tools for it.
The IRS uses a tool to track your stimulus check payment and sign ups for a direct deposit.
Check these out:
Travel During COVID-19 Pandemic: Can You Safely Travel Now?
Stimulus Package Updates: Everything Coming and Going in the New COVID-19 Relief Bill
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