House scheduled to vote today on $2.2 billion relief package

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will try to scrape together a coronavirus stimulus deal Thursday as more trouble spots emerge in the U.S. economic recovery.

The pair spoke by phone for about 50 minutes Thursday afternoon and plan to talk again later in the day, Pelosi’s spokesman Drew Hammill said. They aimed to clarify both the amount of money to put into a potential bill and the language of the legislation, “but distance on key areas remain,” he said.

After Pelosi and Mnuchin met in person Wednesday but did not reach a deal on a fifth coronavirus relief package, they said they would continue negotiations toward an agreement.

The House, which had aimed to pass a $2.2 trillion Democratic bill Wednesday night, delayed a vote until at least Thursday to allow more time for Pelosi and Mnuchin to hash out a bipartisan plan that could get through both chambers of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has opposed the Democratic legislation, meaning it likely will not get through the Republican-led chamber.

Pelosi sounded “frustrated” and “fired up” when talking about the state of the discussions during a Democratic whip conference call Thursday morning, a source who was listening told NBC News. The speaker said the GOP does not “share our values” or want to put what she sees as needed money into state and local governments and health care, the source said.

During the meeting Wednesday, Mnuchin offered a $1.6 trillion proposal — up from the $1.3 trillion the White House had embraced, according to NBC News. It includes $250 billion for state and local government relief, $400 per week in extra unemployment benefits, $150 billion for education, $75 billion for Covid-19 testing and contact tracing, and $60 billion for rental and mortgage assistance, NBC reported.

Speaking to reporters Thursday before she talked to Mnuchin, Pelosi said she is “hoping” the House will vote on its stimulus bill Thursday. While she acknowledged Democrats and Republicans are “way off” on issues including state and municipal aid, the speaker did not rule out the possibility of an agreement.

“Hopefully we can find our common ground on this and do so soon,” she said.

The effort to revive aid discussions follows weeks of pessimism about Congress’ ability to boost the U.S. economy and health-care system before the Nov. 3 election. Lawmakers have not approved new relief funds in months as Democrats and Republicans wrestle over how to structure a package.

The outbreak continues to spread across the country: the U.S. has seen a seven-day average of nearly 43,000 daily new cases. At the same time, many workers and businesses are floundering as restrictions designed to slow the pandemic remain in place.

Initial jobless claims dipped to 837,000 last week, a level still higher than anything seen in recent American memory before shutdowns in March. At the same time, American Airlines and United Airlines will start to furlough more than 32,000 workers combined as they seek federal aid.

Any stimulus deal is expected to include $25 billion to help airlines cover payroll costs. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday that the Trump administration would consider a stand-alone airline bill — though Pelosi has repeatedly rejected anything other than a comprehensive relief package.

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[timhogeland]

Past stimulus or be voted out the American people are hurting if you don't care about us we don't care about your vote

[aaronamos]

Meanwhile in other countries like Canada and Australia they have been paying their citizens for months!!! And we're only on check number two!!?? We've should've had several stimulus checks by now!!! 1, 200 doesn't go very far!! It should be at least 8K since we've gone without for several months!! Unless you're unemployed because they cover you. The retired, people on SS, vets, etc have been neglected!

[lataviastokes]

They need to hurry up people is out here really suffering....

[choppergirl]

Every one of the Republicans voted against another stimulus package, against another $1200, against another $600.
Remember that at the polls.

[bradwarfe]

How about a clean bill to help with direct payments and enhanced unemployment. They can fight over the rest but people are losing everything and on the verge of financial ruin.

[susanporter]

Let's all quit our jobs and stop paying taxes. Where is the government going to get the money to fund their salaries.. they rather help people in other countries than the taxpayers here. I'm sick of being treated this way. No more bailout for state and federal governments. I've worked 35 years straight without a break with mestatic cancer. Nobody is bailing me out. These big corporations have no shame

[davidellis]

It's time for a stimulus for the 🇺🇸.

[songtochei]

Just pass us stimulus check and boost money. That's all we need it now the rest money need it can pass later.. savings people first. We are struggling now starving hungry like wolf....

[jarytitta]

Pelosi is out of control, this country need the stimulus package

[jjbd]

This is sad af, other countries are looking at us like y’all supposed to be the richest country in the world yet you can’t provide economic relief for your people!!

[jaronshalalproductsllc]

Stimulus should be given only to people or businesses that will spend the money to stimulate the economy, not to people who will hoard the money.

[Gems-EyeView]

This house vote is symbolic and doesn’t change anything.

[latanyabowens]

Help the people people lost their job kids going hungry company in the need money kids going hungry send money to people kids

[fficial_bigt]

That vote is not gonna pass the senate so what’s the point she goofy af smh

[Flashbang]

Come on!! Pass the bill realistically!! We need help out here for God sake!!!

[robertperkins]

Hey dummies its 2.2 Trillion not Billion!!!

[fobxxl]

MNUCHIN is killing us ! We need help now ! We feel like we are just biding time week to week. Meanwhile, our bills are piling up and you guys keep wasting OUR TIME and OUR CREDIT RATING ! DAMN IT, DO YOUR JOB ! YOU'RE STILL MAKING THE BIG BUCKS ! SHOW YOU CARE !!!!

[donnav]

Open the country instead of making us wait for stimulus.

[yatzipaula]

Millions of people are watching the news closely🧐 we are waiting and waiting and waiting.

[thedragon]

They better do something they are losing ground with the public fast!