/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f91e9b7d6ed03a9021b6eb7/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=4000&cropY1=279&cropY2=2529&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "Report: Senate GOP ‘Sick’ Of Mnuchin Concessions To Pelosi In Stimulus Deal Talks")
Topline
Senate Republicans are throwing even more cold water on the prospects of another coronavirus stimulus package passing before the November election, as a Thursday afternoon report from the Washington Post cites Senate GOP aides piling on criticisms of ongoing negotiations between Democrats and the White House.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks to the Senate floor on Capitol Hill on … [+]
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Key Facts
Senate Republicans are becoming “frustrated” with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is heading up relief discussions on behalf of the Trump Administration, over the concessions he’s making to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), three unnamed Senate GOP aides told the Washington Post.
“There are not 13 votes for this pile of crap Mnuchin is capitulating on,” one Senate GOP staffer familiar with discussions told the Washington Post, referencing the 13 Republican votes that would be needed to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass a bill in the Senate (assuming all 47 Democratic Senators are on board–which is nearly a given).
Another Senate GOP aide reportedly said: “Fair to say the feeling is he’s giving away the store… The idea that our conference is going to go along with whatever bad deal he cuts with Pelosi is completely unrealistic.”
Just two days ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell (R-Ky.) reportedly told a closed-door Senate GOP lunch that he’s warned the White House not to reach a deal on stimulus before the November election, saying that doing so could stymie plans to confirm Supreme Court Justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett next week.
Others have talked publicly about Republican resistance to any deal that’s reached before the election: Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) told reporters on Monday that the package “would divide Republicans if it’s anything like the kind of contours we hear about.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) took it a step further, saying, “I think we’re going to have a hard time finding 13 votes for anything… [Republicans’] natural instinct, depending on how big [the bill] is, and what’s in it, is probably going to be to be against it.”
Crucial Quote
“[Mnuchin] negotiates harder with his own side than he does with [Pelosi]; folks over here are sick of it,” one Senate GOP aide told the Washington Post, adding that Republicans were “reaching [a] boiling point with” Mnuchin, who “gives and gives and gives and gets nothing in return.”
Key Background
After months of deadlock, the prospects of a stimulus deal coming through before the election seemed to brighten in recent days, with Speaker Pelosi saying on Thursday that she and Secretary Mnuchin have “come to terms” on the provision for more stimulus checks to Americans and were otherwise making progress. But there are more than a couple obstacles that could hinder any successfully negotiated draft legislation from ultimately making its way to President Donald Trump’s desk. The biggest one is arguably Senate Majority Leader McConnell, who has yet to confirm when he would hold a vote on any compromise stimulus legislation before the election.
Big Number
$1.9 trillion. That’s the top-line figure Mnuchin has offered for the stimulus package, much higher than the amount Republicans have been eyeing (they proposed a $1 trillion bill in July), but still below the $2.2 trillion proposal that passed in the Democrat-controlled House earlier this month. GOP Senators are also unhappy that Mnuchin has committed to at least $300 billion in funding for state and local aid.
What To Watch For
For the relief package to pass before the election, Pelosi said on Tuesday that the text of the legislation would need to be finalized by the end of this week.
Further Reading
Senate Republicans fume as Mnuchin gives ground to Pelosi in search of deal (Washington Post)
These Are The Biggest Obstacles To A Stimulus Deal (Forbes)
Senate Republicans cringe at Trump’s stimulus negotiations (Politico)
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