The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on October 15, 2020, 10:57:07 pm
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Pelosi: Mnuchin says Trump will lobby McConnell on big COVID-19 deal
By Mike Lillis - 10/15/20 06:24 PM EDT
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested Thursday that President Trump will press Senate Republicans to accept a massive coronavirus relief package if a deal with Democrats emerges, according to the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Trump in recent days has urged Congress to "go big" as lawmakers weigh another round of emergency stimulus, indicating Thursday that he's told Mnuchin to seek more funding than the $1.8 trillion proposal offered by the White House last week.
Yet Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has rejected such a high figure, citing opposition from a long list of conservatives in his conference. McConnell is expected to stage a vote next week on a much smaller package, in the range of $500 billion.
On a call with Mnuchin Thursday afternoon, Pelosi raised concerns about McConnell being a roadblock to a larger aid package, even if Democrats and the White House can seal an agreement. The Treasury secretary, according to Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, assured her Trump would intervene to lobby the majority leader on behalf of the legislation.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/521299-pelosi-mnuchin-says-trump-will-lobby-mcconnell-on-big-covid-deal