Millions of Americans are still out of work. Many small businesses and major airlines are struggling to stay afloat. And states are still contending with massive budget gaps.
But those in need of relief from the coronavirus pandemic won’t see more money from the federal government anytime soon. Lawmakers have struggled for months to agree on another economic stimulus package to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In tonight's debate, President Trump sought to lay blame on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Congress' failure to pass another bill.
Pelosi said Thursday that a vote could still happen ahead of Election Day on a stimulus package, but signaled that work remains to get an agreement, write legislation and put it on the floor before Nov. 3.
"If we can get an agreement, I think we can, but again we are legislators. We understand how long things take. It is not just a question of us agreeing in a room. ... it takes time," Pelosi said. "It can happen. It is really up to them."
In private conversations, Pelosi has indicated to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the chief negotiator for the White House, that it would be her goal to hold a vote ahead of Election Day though there are still plenty of obstacles to a bill getting through both chambers of Congress anytime soon.
One aide familiar with the discussions told CNN that if a deal was reached, the expectation is that "it would come to the floor ASAP" for a vote in the Democratically controlled House.
But getting a deal still remains up in the air. An overall agreement is still not finished and it may not be reached in time for Election Day. The deal would have to be finished by the weekend in order to get a vote on the floor next week and Pelosi said Thursday that major issues remain outstanding from unemployment insurance to liability protections.
Democrats and Republicans never got very close to a deal, but there was bipartisan support for a second round of stimulus checks, extending a boost to unemployment benefits, providing more support for small businesses and more money for schools.
Congress passed a $2.2 trillion relief package in March, known as the CARES Act, but most of those programs have expired.
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