Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday afternoon to present the Trump administration's coronavirus relief proposal, according to a Democratic aide, after House Democrats unveiled their own revamped $2.2 trillion package earlier this week.
Mnuchin and Pelosi met for around an hour and a half, and then Mnuchin went to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office.
Mnuchin said in an interview with CNBC earlier Wednesday that he was "hopeful" a deal could be reached.
McConnell said earlier Wednesday that the $2 trillion proposal by Democrats was "too high" and "outlandish," indicating that he would not support this legislation either.
On Monday, House Democrats unveiled a revised version of the HEROES Act that would cost around $2.2 trillion. The updated HEROES Act would also include a round of direct payments to American families, and a $600 weekly benefit in addition to unemployment insurance. The bill has provisions to provide $225 billion for education and $436 billion in federal aid to state and local governments. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters that he expects the bill to come to the House floor for a vote later on Wednesday.
Mnuchin and Pelosi were involved in unsuccessful negotiations for a COVID-19 relief bill over the summer. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said they were willing to lower their proposal by $1 trillion if Republicans raised theirs by $1 trillion, meaning that they would support legislation that would cost around $2 trillion. It is unclear if House Democrats would be willing to consider a proposal by Mnuchin that costs under $2 trillion.
Pelosi and Mnuchin resumed negotiations over a coronavirus proposal earlier this week.
Some House Republicans have also been rankled by what they see as backroom deal-making to craft any legislation.
"Classic swamp... I am hearing from K Street of a 'deal' between Mnuchin and Pelosi. Just like you learned how bills become a law, huh? This is not 'draining the swamp,' this IS the swamp... and hopefully @realDonaldTrump will rein in Mnuchin," GOP Congressman Chip Roy tweeted on Wednesday morning.
If Pelosi and Mnuchin do come to an agreement, the bill would have to pass the House by the end of the week, as members of Congress will be returning to their districts to campaign for the remainder of October. It is unclear whether such legislation would be approved in the Republican-controlled Senate.
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