The Senate to take up a narrow economic relief bill next week, says Mitch McConnell

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) announced on Tuesday that the U.S. Senate will consider a narrow economic relief bill in its next week’s session.

President Donald Trump immediately countered the announcement by writing on Twitter: “STIMULUS! Go big or go home!!!” Further reflecting that lawmakers are still not able to agree over the next stimulus package. In a statement last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the stimulus disagreements as “one step forward, two steps back.”

Senate Republicans are proposing a stimulus package worth $1.8 trillion, as pumping excess money into the economy may not be the best way forward. On the other hand, Pelosi together with Democrats lawmakers is proposing a $2.2 trillion stimulus package. Despite President Trump’s $1.8 trillion proposal last week, he has suggested that Republicans should agree to a higher amount, probably bigger than what Democrats are offering.

In a Tuesday letter, after rejecting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s offer, she said it was tragic that the “Trump proposal falls significantly short of what this pandemic and deep recession demand.”

“A fly on the wall or whatever else it might land in the Oval Office tells me that the President only wants his name on a check to go out before Election Day and for the market to go up,” she said in the letter. “The American people want us to have an agreement to protect our lives, livelihood, and the life of our American Democracy. Democrats are determined to do so!”

In a heated argument with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Pelosi was questioned why she wouldn’t accept the “Trump proposal” even though some Democrats in the House agree with it, and millions of Americans need the money.

Pelosi accused Blitzer of being a Republican apologist, with Blitzer also accusing her of letting “the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Pelosi said the Democrats and Republicans want different things, stating that Blitzer had no idea of what he was talking about.

While Pelosi and Mnuchin continue to negotiate, McConnell will still try to pass another proposal that is much more limited. Last month, the Senate Majority leader made an attempt on the new bill, but was blocked by the Democrats and may likely get the same reaction as the last time.

The new bill will include extended enhanced unemployment insurance, the small business protection program, and funds for hospitals, schools, and others on the list. He pointed on Tuesday that his bill is designed to address the “actual needs” of the economy.

“The point is why can’t we sensibly come together and agree to go after what the actual needs are and that’s what my bill is designed to do,” McConnell said. “The choice is do you want to do something or nothing. So far they have said if we can’t do everything we want to do we won’t do anything. That doesn’t solve the problem.”