McConnell Sets October Vote on GOP Coronavirus Aid Plan

By Dana Cruz First Posted: Oct 14, 2020 06:05 AM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the GOP-lead Senate would vote next week on a $500 billion coronavirus aid bill.

Senator McConnell Debates Democratic Challenger Amy McGrath in Lexington

(Photo : Michael Clubb-Pool/Getty Images) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a debate with Democratic challenger Amy McGrath on October 12, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky.

The GOP is pushing coronavirus aid for hard-hit businesses with a smaller price tag that Democrats say they won't go for, ABC News said in a report.

In a statement, McConnell said the Senate would take up the coronavirus aid bill after the full chamber gets back on Monday. He called the plan "targeted relief" for workers that include "new funding" for Paycheck Protection Program small business loans.

Speaking at an event in Kentucky, Mcconnell said the bill would include funding for schools, unemployment insurance boost, and business protections, reported the CNBC.

As Election Day looms near, Republicans and Democrats' pressure increases to reach a coronavirus aid deal. Adding to this pressure is the staggering number of lives taken by the deadly virus.

Earlier in the pandemic, Congress managed to pass a $3 trillion coronavirus aid. The package included assistance for the jobless.

Now, both sides of the aisle say more aid is needed. Yet, their stimulus offers appear to be far apart, noted in Reuters report.

With both sides' leaders still at an impasse, it remains unlikely to come up with a relief deal before the November 3 presidential elections.

'Go Big or Go Home'

President Donald Trump, who called off talks on further relief last week, is once again pushing lawmakers on Tuesday. He told them to "go big or go home" when it comes to the relief bill.

Republicans are still looking forward to passing the bill along with confirming Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Democrats remain to be their main problem, with worries that they may block their move on the relief aid bill.

In recent days, the Republicans have received hits from Democrats for moving forward with the Supreme Court, while many are left jobless. Unemployed Americans are still awaiting federal assistance amid the virus outbreak.

Big 'No' on Targeted Aid

Senate Democrats clearly aren't in favor of targeted aid proposals. They blocked a similar proposal last month and has repeatedly rejected other targeted proposals before.

They prefer to do comprehensive bills that include a large price tag for state and local governments. In their defense, they say these governments suffered from getting their budgets slammed by the pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who talked with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on possible aid, laid out the shortcomings they saw in the Republican proposal. But Republicans also pointed out that the Democrats are offering a very large price tag for the relief aid.

Pelosi refused a $1.8 trillion offer from the White House, even though it is much closer to the Democrats' $2.2 trillion proposal. It was, in fact, the largest offer put forward by the White House.

Pelosi said she's still hopeful that a deal will be met between negotiators. She is leaving the door open for additional talks on the matter.

In an interview with CNN, she defended her stance on a comprehensive package. She said as much as there are delays to the stimulus, she does want it to happen soon.

"But it's no use giving them a false thing just because the president wants to put a check with his name on it in the mail," she reasoned.

She clarified that she doesn't want to wait for a package until February next year, when Democrats may control the Senate and perhaps even the White House.