Pelosi, Mnuchin open door to narrower COVID-19 aid through 2020

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Pelosi, Mnuchin open door to narrower COVID-19 aid through 2020

By Susan Heavey

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), attends a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. August 7, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said they were open to restarting COVID-19 aid talks, after weeks of failed negotiations prompted President Donald Trump to take executive actions that Democrats argued would do little to ease Americans' financial distress.

 

Discussions over a fifth bill to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic fell apart on Friday, a week after a critical boost in unemployment assistance and eviction protections expired, exposing people to a wave of economic pain as infections continue to rise across the country.

 

Trump on Saturday sought to take matters into his own hands, signing executive orders and memorandums aimed at unemployment benefits, evictions, student loans and payroll taxes.

 

The move drew criticism for not directly helping those suffering as the number of U.S. cases of COVID-19 rose past 5 million. More than 160,000 Americans have died. Trump's orders also raised questions about the legality of bypassing Congress' constitutional powers to tax and spend.

 

On Sunday, both Pelosi and Mnuchin appeared willing to consider a narrower deal that would extend some aid until the end of the year and then revisit the need for more federal assistance in January, after November's election that could rebalance power in Washington.

 

"Let's pass legislation on things that we agree on," Mnuchin told Fox News in an interview. "We don't have to get everything done at once ... What we should do is get things done for the American public now, come back for another bill afterwards."

 

Pelosi dismissed Trump's orders as unconstitutional and "illusions" that would not quickly or directly help Americans, saying separately to "Fox News Sunday" that a deal between congressional Democrats and the White House was essential.

 

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday urged a restart of congressional talks on extending coronavirus aid, saying executive actions taken by President Donald Trump a day earlier would have little immediate impact on Americans facing economic distress amid the pandemic. This report produced by Yahaira Jacquez.

 

"Right now, we need to come to agreement," she said, adding that Democrats could shorten the length of time aid is provided in order to bring the bill's costs down closer to the Trump administration's proposal.

 

"We could talk about how long our provisions would be in effect, so we can take things down -- instead of the end of September of next year, a shorter period of time -- and we'll revisit all of it next year anyway," said Pelosi, whose fellow Democrats controls the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

Mnuchin appeared open to consider the idea, telling Fox: "Anytime they have a new proposal, I am willing to listen."

 

Trump on Saturday had also said he hoped negotiations would resume, although it remained unclear when that might happen.

 

$2 TRILLION GAP

The House passed a $3.4 trillion coronavirus support package in May that the Republican-led Senate ignored for weeks before putting forward a $1 trillion counteroffer.

 

Democrats, pushing hard to keep a $600 per week additional unemployment benefit and deliver more funds to cash-strapped states and cities battered by the pandemic, had offered to meet Republicans halfway to close the $2 trillion gap -- a move the White House rejected.

 

On Sunday, Mnuchin urged lawmakers to accept the money the administration was willing to lay out now to help schools reopen, boost local coffers and help the jobless, even if it fell short of Democrats' goals.

 

While it remained unclear whether there would be formal legal challenges to Trump's orders, some legal and tax experts said his actions took few concrete steps to provide immediate relief even as Trump's economic aides defended them.

 

"It's basically nothing," Josh Blackman, a professor at the South Texas College of Law, said of Trump's move directing his Cabinet to look at the issue of evictions.

 

Trump's memo on unemployment aid did not extend benefits under the current system, but instead authorized a separate system that would have to be paid for in part by the states, which have already struggled to pay benefits amid a wave joblessness not seen since the Great Depression.

 

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told CNN on Sunday it was unclear how U.S. states would come up with the additional money, while Mnuchin on Fox said "they can either take that out of the money we've already given them or the president can waive that."

 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, said he was reviewing whether his state could pay for the plan but urged both sides to compromise, telling CNN: "They need to pull together."

 

Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, vice chair of the National Governors Association, said states cannot afford to pay 25% of unemployment costs as outlined by the president. "It's simply impossible," Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

 

Trump's memo calling on companies to defer withholding payroll taxes changed the deadline for when such taxes were due but did not eliminate them. It would rely on employers' compliance and does not help Americans who are out of work.

 

A fourth memo allowed borrowers to defer payments on student loans.

 

Pelosi declined to say whether Democrats would challenge the legality of Trump's actions in court.

 

"Right now, we want to address the needs of the American people," she told CNN.

 

(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Christopher Bing, Jeff Mason and Brad Heath; Editing by Mary Milliken and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-10

 

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[Tug]

Good get it done!

[Mama Noodle]

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

[simple1]

46 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

A number of trump's recent EO's will not translate to reality as they are insufficient in legal authority - either a con job or incompetence by the trump administration.

[Tug]

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

Yea she’s horrible all that experience just horrible much better trump exploding the deficit GDP off by 32% Americans dying in the 10s of thousands 30million unemployed a nation once a leader now a pitied laughingstock oh yea that trump(sarcasm)alert and just were was the house when the senate was on vacation?the house walked in wanting 3 billion then dropped to 2 the senate was the ones who refused to negotiate not the house 

[meechai]

2 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

Exactly & good because Pelosi & crews package was as usual so full of pork barrel spending it was insane

 

Let the EO serve as it should

 

Lastly yes... Pelosi ranks as one ofm if not the worst US Politician of all time.

[Scott]

Off-topic, troll posts and replies removed.   Stay on topic.  

[Estrada]

6 minutes ago, meechai said:

Exactly & good because Pelosi & crews package was as usual so full of pork barrel spending it was insane

 

Let the EO serve as it should

 

Lastly yes... Pelosi ranks as one ofm if not the worst US Politician of all time.

You got that wrong. It was Trump who attempted to pork barrel with money for fighter aircraft, redecorate the White House and to refurbish the FBI building next to his Trump hotel in order to prevent the FBI building being sold to a competitor's hotel business.

[Srikcir]

"Let's pass legislation on things we agree on"

Little noticed is the process to pass abiil in Congress.

Individually the House and Senate pass their version of a bill (ie., stimulus bill). If the two passed bills do not reconcile, they go to an existing Reconcilitaion Committee compised of Democrats and Republicans who have proven experience in bill reconciliation. 

The present problem is that the House did its job to pass a stimulus bill two+ months ago but the divided Republican-controlled did not in part by even rebuffing Trump's intersections and pronouncements. So procedurally, the House is under no obligation to hold informal talks with the Senate to reconcile a bill that both can agree when the Senate has no bill! 

The fact that now the House is in discussion, not with the Senate, but with the White House to reconcile a passed House bill with a nonlegislative Presidential Order is just bizarre. This points to leadership failure of the Senate Majority Leader and Trump who should be working towards passage of a Senate bill.

Fortunately for the nation, the Democrat-controlled House is trying in an informal bill reconciliation process that BYPASSES THE SENATE to get legislation agreed. Then Mitch can copy the agreement into a Senate bill (likely new version have to be approved by the House) and pass to Trump for execution.

But as we have seen in the past, Trump's approval in not guaranteed.

[Cryingdick]

Nancy is welcome to come back and legislate anytime she wants  to do so. I heard she now wants to talk to Trump. These things have a way of working themselves out.

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Nancy is welcome to come back and legislate anytime she wants  to do so. I heard she now wants to talk to Trump. These things have a way of working themselves out.

It almost sounds as if the Vile witch has been brought to her knees.  Where are the folks who keep saying that lawsuits await and Trump can not create the executive orders he did.  I do not see much of a blow up on the democrats part yet regarding those executive orders, but then it is still Sunday in the US, and maybe they are trying to put all there heads together to figure out how he violated something and should be impeached again.  Just do what needs to be done for the public and quit yer bitchin.......my opinion and sarcasm as usual.

[Mick501]

Dems strategy in government was to sit on their hands for 8 years.  Now they see their role in opposition as preventing the current government from achieving anything, as they know that every time the Trump government successfully implements a policy it is invariable helpful for the bulk of the population.  Everything possible must be done to block this, as each additional piece of legislation serves to further highlight the ineptitude of the Dems when they held power.

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed.

 

[Brunolem]

Trump did smartly with his EOs, because they benefit the people, and mostly the small guys.

 

So it would do no good to the Democrats to challenge these EOs, especially so close to the election.

 

While both parties want a lot of pork in the relief package, the main difference is that Democrats want to provide truckloads of money to the states, notably their states, which have been financially destroyed by their insane lockdown policies...hence the more than 2 trillion dollars difference between both plans.

 

With the EOs, the White House and the Republicans now hold the upper hand, and the Democrats are going to have to lower their demands a lot.

 

Expect a final package between 1.5 and 2 trillions, which is the amount that the treasury happens to have on hand.

[meechai]

2 hours ago, Estrada said:

You got that wrong. It was Trump who attempted to pork barrel

Baloney

The most heated Congressional debates have dealt with the extending of the $600 per week unemployment checks, the benefit pays 7 in 10 jobless more in unemployment benefits than they were earning while working.

 

I know many here that were actually collecting them even if they still had the job but slightly cut back hours.....& they all said it was insane that they were all getting paid more than they ever did working

Edited August 10, 2020 by meechai

[ThailandRyan]

So in a nutshell here is what the Dems face and then the republicans as well.  The president did what he could under law for those that think otherwise.  To tie it up in courts would be foolhardy and create more hardships down the line as people are being disenfranchised by both sides of the aisle.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-s-stimulus-orders-set-off-squabble/ar-BB17KNl7?ocid=msedgdhp

[simple1]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

So in a nutshell here is what the Dems face and then the republicans as well.  The president did what he could under law for those that think otherwise.  To tie it up in courts would be foolhardy and create more hardships down the line as people are being disenfranchised by both sides of the aisle.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-s-stimulus-orders-set-off-squabble/ar-BB17KNl7?ocid=msedgdhp

 

The Republicans may well obtain political advantage, but only if people do not bother to fact check which is probably what the trump administration is counting on. e.g. the EO for evictions is not workable for the majority...

 

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/09/trump-ban-evictions-tenantsperil-392674

 

The EO for extending unemployment funding at $400 p.w. will likely fall in a heap as there is insufficient funding from State and local governments

 

Many Republicans and Democrats do not support the halt to the Payroll Tax, which will create more national debt unless the Administration cut back Welfare / SS programs.

 

One hopes both parties are able to work though the current impasse in order workable solutions can be enacted to support US citizens during the Covid-19 crisis, the mismanagement of which, to date, lays solely with the current President.

Edited August 10, 2020 by simple1

[gazza4]

10 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

And we all know who the absolute worst is.

[stevenl]

10 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

I think the shoe is on the other foot. Some in the WH realise there are major legal issues with the executive order, plus the order is far, far from ideal and does not do what Trump had promised. On top of that Congress and Senate are unhappy with the order, so the more sensible ones in the WH know something else than the executive order is needed.

[ShindenGo]

This president is FASCIST DICTATOR! He circumvents the will of the people by stealing tax payer money!! He should have been impeached along with Pence! If Hilary was President we wouldn’t even have covid19! Guarantee it

[Brunolem]

21 minutes ago, ShindenGo said:

This president is FASCIST DICTATOR! He circumvents the will of the people by stealing tax payer money!! He should have been impeached along with Pence! If Hilary was President we wouldn’t even have covid19! Guarantee it

It is indeed possible that with Hillary there wouldn't have been a covid 19...thanks to a nuclear war with Russia during her first year on the throne!

 

All things considered, I'd rather opt for the virus rather than a nuclear winter...

[riclag]

9 hours ago, meechai said:

Baloney

The most heated Congressional debates have dealt with the extending of the $600 per week unemployment checks, the benefit pays 7 in 10 jobless more in unemployment benefits than they were earning while working.

 

I know many here that were actually collecting them even if they still had the job but slightly cut back hours.....& they all said it was insane that they were all getting paid more than they ever did working

My son was told  by the car dealership, to stay home and collect unemployment until the  fed and state benefits  run out in Cali ! They promised him his job back! I

 

[Thailand]

On 8/10/2020 at 5:34 AM, Mama Noodle said:

Pelosi and Schumer did not see Trump coming with the EO's and is now feverishly rushing back to the table after months of political nonsense and continually blocking aid to Americans and businesses. 

 

Pelosi is one of the worst politicians in America. 

Really, perhaps they should have read the newspapers then.

Even the UK press was talking about Trump using his pen, EO, well before the talks failed. 

Seems to only be a surprise for some members on TV.

[Mama Noodle]

3 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Really, perhaps they should have read the newspapers then.

Even the UK press was talking about Trump using his pen, EO, well before the talks failed. 

Seems to only be a surprise for some members on TV.

Actually it was Obama who famously said he’s legislate with his pen, and which he did constantly, much to the approval of the same people who now have big time frowns on their faces when trump did it.