After struggling for 2 weeks to finalize a $908 billion coronavirus aid framework, a bipartisan group of lawmakers over the weekend reached a compromise on liability protections for businesses and federal aid to states and native governments two thorny issues at the middle of the stimulus impasse in Washington but there’s no guarantee that leadership from either party will check in to the plan.
The group will release their proposed legislation in two pieces, consistent with multiple reports: a $748 billion bill that might contain enhanced unemployment insurance, small business aid, healthcare funding, and other non-controversial provisions, and a separate $160 billion bill containing the state and native aid and temporary liability protections.
There’s no guarantee that Congressional leadership will back the proposal, however, especially given Senate legislator Mitch McConnell’s aversion to additional state and native aid and Democratic leaders’ recent rejection of McConnell’s suggestion to eliminate state and native aid and liability from the framework entirely so as to expedite a deal.
The separation of the bipartisan framework into two bills could mean that the non-controversial section could pass while the opposite provisions fail.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is constant to barter with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and therefore the Trump administration (though the 2 camps haven’t been ready to reach any meaningful compromise after months).
On Sunday, a spokesman for Pelosi reiterated the House Speaker’s stance on including state and native aid within the final bill, saying she believes it’s “even more important” given states’ new responsibilities associated with vaccine distribution.
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