Schumer says GOP plan for coronavirus relief is 'emaciated' as lawmakers struggle to revive negotiations
He said Republicans are trying to 'check the box' and give the appearance of action
By Tyler Olson | Fox News
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to his caucus Thursday morning warning that Republicans' coronavirus plan is "emaciated" and accused the GOP of trying to "check the box" on another stimulus bill, statements that appear to throw water on attempts to revive negotiations that fell apart last month.
After lawmakers failed to pass legislation ahead of the August recess, there was hope that there could be some sort of breakthrough in negotiations once they returned to Washington, D.C. But Schumer, D-N.Y., in the letter to his Democratic colleagues slammed comments by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., about a potential "skinny" coronavirus proposal which would cost about $1 trillion. Schumer and Democrats started their negotiations at the $3 trillion price tag of the bill House Democrats passed earlier this year, but later said they would be willing to come down to $2 trillion, something Republicans including McConnell and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows have not been receptive to.
"I was hopeful that with the highest unemployment since the Great Depression and the worst public health crisis since 1918, we could make progress in our negotiations with the White House during the month of August," Schumer wrote. "But President Trump, led by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, has embraced a hardline view that the federal government should be doing less, not more, during this time of national crisis."
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-says-republicans-plan-for-coronavirus-is-emaciated-accuses-gop-of-trying-to-check-the-box
