House Democrats released a scaled back $2.2 trillion proposal to extend support to the U.S. economy in face of the continuing damage from the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan follows through on discussions last week to prompt a last-ditch attempt at negotiations with the White House and break an impasse on Covid-19 relief that’s lasted since early August. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin talked Monday evening after the Democratic plan was released and plan to speak again on Tuesday, Pelosi’s spokesman said.
While the details of the legislative text adds clarity to the talks, the top-line spending level is no closer to that so far supported by Republicans. President Donald Trump has indicated he could support as much as $1.5 trillion in aid—still higher than the $650 billion put forth in a “skinny” aid package by Senate Republicans earlier this month.
Should no deal be forthcoming, House Democrats have said they aim to proceed on their own in voting on the new plan, allowing the party’s candidates in the Nov. 3 elections to highlight a recent vote on coronavirus relief. The last vote was on the bigger, $3.4 trillion Heroes Act back in May.
Pelosi said earlier Monday that the White House will have to agree to “much more” spending for a fresh round of stimulus if there is any hope of striking a deal before the election. “We can get this done,” Pelosi said Monday on MSNBC, while emphasizing the need for more money.
A key source of division has been Democrats’ push for large-scale aid to state and local authorities. The plan released Monday has $436 billion for one year of assistance, less than a previous demand for $915 billion, which had triggered scorn among Trump administration officials who called it a bailout for poorly run states.
The Democratic plan includes new aid for airlines, restaurants and small businesses that wasn’t in in the original package passed by the House in May, and it has more than double the amount for schools.
The bill would provide another round of $1,200 direct relief payments to individuals and $500 per dependent—less than the $1,200 for dependents Democrats originally proposed. It also has $600 per week in extra unemployment benefits through January, the same amount that expired in July and helped disposable incomes surge even as the economy tipped into recession.
Housing Aid
The bill continues the Heroes Act’s aims of bolstering housing assistance, with tens of billions of dollars to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments.
Also included is $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, along with $28 billion for procurement, distribution and education campaigns for a safe and effective vaccine.
Democrats have also cut spending demands on hazard pay for essential workers, housing assistance, health insurance and the Postal Service.
With the Senate under Republican control, the bill is unlikely to advance without a major turnaround in the Trump administration’s position. Private economists have increasingly abandoned forecasts for a deal before the election. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. recently cut their forecasts for growth next quarter as a consequence.
