Nancy Pelosi commits to keeping House in session until a Covid-19 stimulus deal is reached
“We are committed to staying here until we have an agreement — an agreement that meets the needs of the American people,” Pelosi said during an interview with CNBC.
During a private conference call with House Democrats on Tuesday morning, Pelosi remained firm in the negotiating position she’s held up to this point: that scaling back the party’s position on stimulus talks is a non-starter.
The US House of Representatives is scheduled to be out of session starting early next month while its members run for reelection. But House Democrats, particularly those members in the most difficult reelection campaigns, have started to voice concern about the lack of agreement on a new stimulus bill. Pelosi’s scheduling announcement appeared to be an effort to address those concerns, even as broader progress in the talks has been nonexistent for weeks.
Democratic leaders have pushed for a $2.2 trillion aid package — an amount top Republicans argue is too costly.
Senate Republicans attempted to move a scaled-back relief package, referred to as a “skinny” bill, last week, but were blocked by the chamber’s Democrats. Pelosi has maintained for weeks that she would reject any scaled back efforts — and reiterated that Tuesday.
“A skinny deal is not a deal,” Pelosi said on the call.
“I think the Problem Solvers are lower than would be a responsible deal,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters. “But I think their ideas are useful and maybe it will encourage our Republican friends to come up.”
That package would direct $100 billion to health care programs, including $25 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing. It would provide $500 billion for state and local governments, $145 billion for schools and child care, $15 billion for the US Postal Service, and $290 billion for small businesses. It would also include $400 million to help states hold the November elections.
The measure also incorporates another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals under a certain income threshold, with an additional $500 per child, while extending the federal eviction moratorium and providing rental assistance up to $25 billion.
Supporters said they hoped the plan could break the logjam and spur action on Capitol Hill, as talks have been at an impasse since August.
While Pelosi made clear she was not backing off the firm position held by Democratic leaders on scale and scope of any final deal, she did make a commitment to jittery members of her caucus that the House would stay in session until an agreement is reached — a position she confirmed during the CNBC interview.
Pelosi expressed hope that the Trump administration could come around to Democrats’ point of view.
“We’re optimistic that the White House at least will understand that we have to do some things,” she said.
This story has been updated with additional developments Tuesday.
