Coronavirus stimulus deal is still possible — Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker has announced that Americans can still keep their fingers crossed that a new stimulus package is possible as House Democrats are opting for smaller aid package.

Speaking in an interview with CNN on Sunday September 27, 2020, Pelosi said the House could still reach an agreement over the $2.4 trillion it has earmarked for the new aid package.

Faced with overwhelming pressure from Democrats, Pelosi has put in extra efforts to get Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, and Mark Meadows, Chief of Staff to add $1 trillion to the $1.3 trillion as the White House has said that it would not be ready to approve anything above $1.5 trillion.

Expressing hope on the possibility of a new stimulus package, Pelosi said, “When I have a conversation with the administration, it is in good faith. I trust Secretary Mnuchin to represent something that can reach a solution, and I believe we can come to an agreement.”

Negotiations over stimulus package between Trump administration and House Democrats have stalled in August. There was a sign though that the negotiations would resume, according to Mnuchin.

It was also said that the Chamber would begin legislating on the bill as soon as next week. The legislation would include unemployment benefits, direct payments to Americans, Paycheck Protection Program small business loans and aid for airlines.

While giving reasons for the need to increase the stimulus funds, Pelosi said, “However, at some point, the public is going to have to see why $2.2 or now $2.4 trillion dollars is necessary.

“The president’s denial of the virus and just resistance to doing anything to crush it has made matters worse … So we may need more money than that. And we will reveal what that is in a short period of time.”

Meanwhile, Democrats objected to a $500 billion aid package on the ground that it did not include state and local government relief and food assistance.

While pushing further for negotiations, Pelosi said, “I think we have a chance to get something done and we want to.”

“What we will be putting forth is an offer to say, now let us negotiate within a time frame and a dollar amount to get the job done to put money in people’s pockets, to honor our heroes and to crush the virus,” she added.