US Senate to vote this week on 'skinny' pandemic relief bill

[WASHINGTON] The US Senate will vote on Wednesday on a US$300 billion Senate Republican coronavirus relief bill that is far below the estimated US$2 trillion that Democrats have demanded.

The bill, dubbed a "skinny" relief bill for its pared-down funding, was already rejected by Democrats in September and is again expected to fail.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Saturday that the vote would follow a standalone vote on additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds on Tuesday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke for an hour and 15 minutes Saturday evening and their staff "will continue discussions, and they have agreed to speak again on Monday", Treasury spokesperson Monica Crowley said on Twitter.

Pelosi spokesperson Drew Hammill said that there was progress on coronavirus testing but "there remains work to do to ensure there is a comprehensive testing plan". He added there are numerous other differences "that must be addressed in a comprehensive manner in the next 48 hours". Mr Hammill also said "decisions must be made by the White House in order to demonstrate that the Administration is serious about reaching a bipartisan agreement that provides for Americans with the greatest needs during the pandemic". The White House declined to comment.

On Oct 10, Mr Mnuchin proposed a US$1.8 trillion economic stimulus proposal in talks with Mrs Pelosi but many Senate Republicans have balked at a package that big.

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Time is winding down before the Nov 3 presidential election to reach agreement on a new coronavirus relief package.

"These are just some of the urgent needs that Washington should meet immediately while debates continue over the rest," Mr McConnell said.

In September, Mr McConnell estimated the cost of the new PPP programme at US$257 billion.

Relief plans have remain bogged down over the appropriate amount of funding and related issues like coronavirus testing plans and a Republican push to protect companies from liability if their workers get infected on the job.

Airlines have pleaded with Congress for a new US$25 billion bailout to keep workers on the job after a prior six-month payroll assistance programme expired on Sept 30. At least 32,000 airlines workers have been laid off this month after funding ended.

REUTERS