Trump Urges Republicans to Approve a Larger Stimulus Package

By Mary Anne R. Sep 16 2020, 21:28 PM EDT

Trump on stimulus package — Alex Wong/Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump told Republicans on Wednesday to accept a larger coronavirus stimulus package.

Trump seconds White House chief of staff Mark Meadows' optimism on striking a deal with Democrats.

The president told GOP lawmakers in a tweet to "go for much higher numbers" in legislation aimed to boost the economy and healthcare system struggling during the pandemic.

Many Republicans have proposed limited relief as the major parties try to break a stalemate over a fifth stimulus package bill.

Trump said he supports something like the roughly $1.5 trillion legislation proposed by a bipartisan House group.

He added that he likes "the larger amount" of spending. Trump also said that some Republicans disagree, but he thinks he can convince them to agree on that.

Meadows said he is "probably more optimistic about the potential for a deal in the last 72 hours than I have been in the last 72 days."

Meadow's statement was followed by a Tuesday release of the plan from the House Problem Solvers Caucus.

Democratic House committee chairs rejected the proposal on Tuesday as party leaders call to add at least $2.2 trillion into the coronavirus fight.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., again rejected a more limited relief proposal.

Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement that they were encouraged by what Trump said.

The two Democrat leaders said that they look forward to hearing from the president's negotiators.

Moderate Democrats have also implored Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to keep the House in sessions until another stimulus package is passed.

Pelosi told the moderate democrats that the Senate has refused to heed the needs of the nation seriously.

Pelosi said she would not budge to Republican demands than an aid bill be smaller than she proposed.

Pelosi had earlier announced that she would not send lawmakers home without a deal.

The House is set to have a recess for October's month ahead of an election to let lawmakers campaign.

House Democrats have approved new relief legislation. However, talks between Pelosi and the White House has resulted in no resolution.

Negotiations on more assistance to Americans stopped last month despite the expiration of financial lifelines, which includes the $600 per week unemployment benefit.

This also includes a federal moratorium on evictions.

Reports said many people would feel sharp pain with a jobless rate a little above eight percent.

Meanwhile, Senate Republican leaders have tried to pass their own stimulus package bill last week.

This, with hopes to put pressure on Democrats to ease the burden on vulnerable GOP senators.

However, Democrats blocked the legislation, saying that it was inadequate to address the crisis.

Meadows said he was willing to stay engaged in talks, but he wants to see a deal happen to withe a week to 10 days.

State and local government's funding have posed a stumbling block in negotiations. Democrats want more than $900 billion in relief for states and municipalities.

The White House wants $150 billion in new spending.