Democrats support proposal for a new $ 1,200 no-check stimulus plan

By Lauren Egan - NBC News

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the top Democratic leaders in the US House and Senate, will support using the reduced $ 908 billion COVID-19 relief package developed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, such as basis for a final agreement.

The proposal would provide eligible Americans with an additional $ 300 in unemployment payments and expand aid to cash-strapped local governments, in addition to supporting small businesses, transit systems and airlines.

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Support from Democrats renews hope that Congress will pass the aid before the end of 2020.

Pelosi and Schumer urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to consider the proposal.

Both Democrats had been pushing for a package twice as large. 

In a joint statement, Democratic leaders said: "While we made a new offer to Leader McConnell and Leader McCarthy on Monday, in a spirit of compromise we believe that the bipartisan framework presented yesterday by senators should be used as the basis for bicameral negotiations. and bipartisan immediately. "

The Democratic leader in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, had pushed for an aid package twice as large.

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"Of course, we and others will offer improvements, but the need to act is immediate and we believe that with good faith negotiations we could reach an agreement," they added.

Democratic support

, as lawmakers from both parties are eager for some relief before leaving Washington for the holidays, leaving only a few days for Congress come to an agreement.

So far, McConnell has indicated that he prefers to keep coronavirus spending closer to the GOP's previous proposal of $ 550 billion, and has said he plans to attach any deal to a government funding bill

of the GOP.

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The bipartisan plan unveiled Tuesday was supported by several moderate senators, including Senators Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, Mark Warner, D-Virginia, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Bill Cassidy, R-Republican. by Louisiana, among others.

The proposal does not include another check for $ 1,200

The proposal includes liability protections for companies that remain open during the pandemic, a provision Pelosi and Schumer have opposed in the past.

The package excludes another round of $ 1,200 direct payments, like those sent under the CARES Act, in March.

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Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, told reporters Wednesday that he thought the bipartisan plan could win Republican support in the Senate, but cautioned that "we are also looking at Senator McConnell's [plan]. So that we hope to work to see where the support is.

, as well as the House (of Representatives). "

Senate Assistant Leader John Thune, Republican, called Pelosi and Schumer's statement "progress," but also indicated that the party was not ready to abandon McConnell's proposal.

"At some point, hopefully we can find common ground and maybe we can merge those [plans]," he said.

While White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Wednesday that stimulus relief was a "political priority" for the Trump Administration, it is unclear what the outgoing president will be willing to support in the final weeks of his mandate.

McConnell said Tuesday he

New York Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer and New Jersey Republican Tom Reed, the bipartisan duo who helped craft the plan, thanked Pelosi and Schumer, calling their support "a much-needed step in the right direction."

"We thank Speaker (Lower House) Pelosi and Leader Schumer for recognizing the critical need for a bipartisan and bicameral emergency aid package for COVID-19," they said.