House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) late Monday gave the White House and House Democrats until Tuesday to sort out policy disputes to narrow the gap toward a new trillion dollar COVID-19 stimulus package before Nov. 3.
Pelosi was optimistic her talks with White House chief negotiator Steve Mnuchin will lead to a breakthrough that might make available up to $2.2 trillion to families and businesses struggling to stay afloat amid the coronavirus economic crisis.
In a letter to House Democrats, she expressed optimism a deal can be reached before the election despite the many outstanding issues and the billions of dollars separating competing proposals from House Democrats and Republicans.
Pelosi said "we are writing [legislative] language" as talks continue, "so that we are fully prepared to move forward once we reach agreement."
She did, however, dwell on several lingering disputes. Among the more contentious are a national coronavirus testing strategy and state and local government relief. There are also strong disagreements over tax credit expansion, child care provisions and support for the U.S. Census.
Pelosi and Mnuchin are said to have made progress in their latest coronavirus stimulus talks in a one-hour phone call Monday. Both leaders "continued to narrow their differences," said Drew Hammill, Pelosi's representative.
Pelosi directed House committee chairs to work to resolve areas of disagreement with the White House. Hamill said Pelosi and Mnuchin plan to talk again Tuesday.
"The Speaker continues to hope that, by the end of the day Tuesday, we will have clarity on whether we will be able to pass a bill before the election," he said.
Democrats are demanding a stimulus package worth $2.2 trillion, substantially lower than their original $3.2 trillion provided in their Heroes Act passed by the House on May 15.
Republicans remain wedded to their proposal of $500 billion put forward by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken) in late July. President Donald Trump, however, has indicated his preference for a price tag larger than the Democrats' $2.2 trillion. The White House is shooting for $1.8 billion.
Political pundits said the best-case scenario had Pelosi and the White House reaching a deal in principle that could be drafted and considered after the national elections Nov. 3.
