WASHINGTON – The Senate did not approve a $500 billion COVID-19 stimulus package on Wednesday, as negotiations lasted less than two weeks before Election Day.
The bill would have given a federal touch to weekly unemployment benefits, sent a $100 bill to schools and allocated a budget for testing and vaccine development. Failed in a 51-44 vote, failed to succeed in the 60 votes needed to allow the law. to move forward, as almost all Democrats opposed it, fearing that more cash would be needed to fight the virus and Americans.
The $500 bill was priced well below the $1. 8 trillion package presented through the White House and the $2. 2 trillion package supported by Democrats Both sides spent months looking to succeed in a bipartisan settlement for one last round of relief for coronavirus stimulus before the election.
The talks were dizzying, and negotiations were expected to be greeted with optimism and additional discussions between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who blamed Democrats for opposing a compromise, told Republicans Tuesday that he had suggested to the White House not to reach an agreement with Democrats on a COVID-19 relief program, according to a Senate source who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk about closed-door talks.
The Kentucky Republican said he feared there weren’t enough Republican votes to help a broader package and raised considerations that voting on that law might be a negative time for Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court Confirmation vote, which is scheduled for Monday, according to the source. Said.
Senate Republicans have highlighted their considerations about a primary bill because of the development of the national debt and which Democrats have ordered, such as the budget for local and state governments.
Instead, they supported the $500 billion bill. While it is not expected to be passed on Wednesday, the law will largely serve as a tool for Republicans to set their priorities. It can also provide a lifeline for outgoing Republican senators in difficult situations facing difficult problems. -Election campaigns.
“The law before us is not the concept of Republicans or Democrats of a better bill. I think we’re all transparent about it,” McConnell said in the Senate wednesday before the vote. or nothing will prevent and provide great support, right now, to our nation’s highest urgent desires. “
He criticized Democrats, who said they advocated “stupid tricks,” as more for state and local governments, assignments he called “deceptions” for governments that “Democrats have mismanaged for decades. “
“The country wants a result,” McConnell said. Let’s put aside our differences, agree where we can and move forward. Why not the country while Washington keeps arguing about the rest?”
false vote. “
“While the country suffers, while millions of Americans are in poor health and dying, while staff lose their jobs, businesses close their doors, Republican senators do political tricks with significant financial aid,” he said.
He criticized the lack of investment for coronavirus testing and testing and said the law was full of “poisonous pills” that Democrats would never support.
The Senate voted Tuesday on a small bill to reauthorize the Small Business Payment Check Protection Program (P3). The bill would have allowed some other small business loan circulate, but blocked by Democrats, who advocated for a larger package.
Congress last approved a comprehensive package in March, and many of its provisions have expired: a federal accumulation of weekly unemployment benefits sold out in July, airline assistance expired in October, and Americans in economic recession eagerly await a stimulus circular.
Despite McConnell’s considerations of negotiating an agreement before the election, Pelosi and Mnuchin continued talks to verify and find a compromise.
Pelosi, who appeared on MSNBC on Wednesday, said he was “optimistic” about a bill, but the timing is still unclear. “It’s a question about whether it’s time to pay the November rent, which is my goal, or whether it will be soon. then and retroactive,” the California Democrat said.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Fox Business Wednesday that he hoped to succeed in an agreement over the next two days and that the talks had “entered a new, more technical phase of seeking the right language. if you can agree on the numbers. “
It added that while the two sides were “still separated”, progress had been made in recent days.
“I’m optimistic,” Meadows added. ” We have a goal percentage and hope to reach some kind of deal in 48 hours. “
McConnell said Tuesday that a “president-backed bill” would be presented to the Senate if passed in the House of Representatives, although lawmakers have become pessimistic about the introduction of a bipartisan law.
Senator Richard Shelthrough, Alabama Republican, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned the existence of a primary aid program and called the $1. 8 trillion filed through the White House a “high number. “
“Time is running out and I’m sure of what we’re doing,” he said.