Some lawmakers remain optimistic about stimulus deal citing re-election pressure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Stimulus talks still appear to be stalled in Washington. But some lawmakers appear optimistic a deal can be reached before Election Day, and they say your vote has everything to do with that.
This week, the bipartisan House group known as the Problem Solvers Caucus proposed what they call the March to Common Ground – a $1.5 trillion coronavirus relief package. The proposal contains top Democratic priorities, including $500 billion in aid for state and local governments. It also contains some top Republican priorities, including $290 billion in relief for small businesses and non-profits, along with liability protection.
“We do not step into the role of being the final negotiators on this package,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), noting that would be left to party leaders and the White House. “What we wanted to demonstrate is that it can be done.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appeared to dismiss the framework during her news conference Friday. She is calling for a larger more comprehensive deal north of $2.2 trillion, nearly $1 trillion less than the cost of the HEROES Act the House passed earlier this year.
Still, some senators remain optimistic Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) can be reach a deal by Election Day due in part to the election itself.
“There are critical states that have tough re-elections that I’m sure (McConnell) is hearing from those Senators, who are hearing from those governors, that they need relief,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said in a recent interview.
“(McConnell) had one group of vulnerable senators who wanted to do something because they are running for re-election, hearing from their constituents,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). “He had another group, maybe 20 of them, saying we’ve done enough, we don’t want to do any more.”
But some Republican senators who are not up for re-election, such as Pennsylvania’s Patrick J. Toomey, are insisting on a narrower bill. Congress has already approved more than $3 trillion dollars in relief.
“The economy is a very different place now in mid-September than it was in mid-March,” Toomey said this week. “Anything we do should reflect that.”
Many of the 50 members in the Problem Solvers Caucus are from swing districts and are also in tough re-election races of their own. Reed said Tuesday the framework of their bill comes directly from the voters.
“It’s time to put the American people first and get the job done because they are suffering still from the COVID-19 situation,” Reed said.