After a week full of mixed messages that generated confusion and further stalemate in bipartisan negotiations, the possibility that American families will soon receive new government aid due to the pandemic, including the expected second check for $ 1,200, seems remote.
So far there are no concrete signs of a close agreement between Republicans and Democrats in Congress for new relief legislation.
The latest proposal from the Administration of President Donald Trump, which plans to
expand
the total amount of a new aid plan from
$ 1.6 trillion to $ 1.8 trillion
and was presented this Friday, has generated a cold reaction among negotiators from both parties.
The president of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, defined this Saturday the government's proposal as "one step forward, two backward", a way of saying that she is not convinced.
The last proposal from the Democrats was for a figure of 2.2 trillion dollars.
[Trump changes his version and talks about a possible check for $ 1,200, hours after halting the aid negotiations]
"When the president talks about wanting a bigger aid package, his proposal seems to mean that he wants more money at his discretion to give or withhold, rather than find an agreement that prescribes how we honor our workers," he wrote in a letter to his fellow Democrats.
"We still have
disagreements on many priorities,
" he added.
Unemployment rate will take up to 10 years to recover
July 6, 202001: 54
An agreement before elections is highly unlikely
There are also voices in disagreement with this proposed plan on the Republican side, as reported this Saturday by The Washington Post, CNN and The Associated Press news agency.
In a meeting that took place by telephone, several Republican members of the Senate, where they have a majority, criticized parts of the offer of the Trump Administration in the presence of the Secretary of the Upper House, Steve Mnuchin, and the Chief of Staff of the White House , Mark Meadows,
The position of the Republican senators indicates that it is highly unlikely, if not impossible, that a new plan will be approved before the presidential elections on November 3, according to those reports.
[What about the $ 1,200 check and why Pelosi accuses Trump of using it to her advantage]
Before Trump's new offer was known, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had rejected the possibility that a deal was close.
"I think that's going to be
unlikely
in the next three weeks," he said Friday in Kentucky.
Later that day, during an appearance in Tompkinsville, in the same state, McConnell cast doubt on whether he still sees hope.
"I don't know if we will get another (relief) package or not," he said in remarks reflected by AP.
Here's what to do if you haven't received your stimulus check yet
Sept.
22, 202002: 05
Priority for confirmation to the Supreme Court
The Axios news site says Republicans in the Senate want to prioritize the appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barret to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.
Pelosi, for her part, said that
negotiations continue on her part
.
And some Republicans facing tough electoral battles are keen for new aid, according to the Post.
[Another check for $ 1,200 and weekly unemployment payments of $ 600: this is the new relief plan proposed by the Democrats]
Trump himself this week has shown an erratic position on a possible new aid plan, while the pandemic continues and the national economy shows no signs of substantial improvement.
Work suspensions and layoffs continue.
First, the president announced that negotiations were broken until after the elections, prompting
negative reactions from the financial markets
and some members of his own party.
Hours later, he backtracked and said he was willing to sign a new round of checks for $ 1,200 for families, provided they present him with a separate standards bill.
Then he announced that he wanted a larger plan.
With information from the Washington Post, CNN, AP, NBC News, Axios.