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US Congress Buys Itself More Time for COVID Aid Compromise

Katherine Gypson

   WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers have yet another new coronavirus aid
   proposal to consider as time runs out to make a deal on assistance
   addressing the economic impact of the pandemic.

   Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin late Tuesday pitched a $916 billion
   aid package that has the support of President Donald Trump and
   congressional Republicans.

   But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
   rejected as "unacceptable" the president's proposal to cut
   supplementary funding for employment insurance from the $180 billion
   offered in a bipartisan proposal down to $40 billion.

   In a statement, Pelosi and Schumer said, "While it is progress that
   Leader McConnell has signed off on a $916 billion offer that is based
   off of the bipartisan framework, the president's proposal must not be
   allowed to obstruct the bipartisan congressional talks that are
   underway."

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