Hill leaders are approaching Covid’s long-awaited aid plan

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Democrats and Republicans appeared optimistic after Tuesday’s conclusion of face-to-face talks between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Leader of the House GOP, Kevin McCarthy.

Nothing is finished yet and details are scarce on what can be agreed, but all signs point to the likely announcement of an agreement that will include provisions with broad bipartisan support, including an extension of unemployment benefits, loans for affected small businesses and money for vaccine distribution. Lawmakers can also extend the federal eviction moratorium and defer student loan payments.
While Hill’s leaders would not confirm what they have agreed to, it is likely that both sides have made some significant concessions, including demands for money for states and cities (a priority that Democrats have been pressuring) and a shield of responsibility that the Republican Party had. been looking for.

McConnell told reporters that there has been “significant progress” and said, “I am optimistic that we will be able to complete an understanding soon.”

Similarly, McCarthy projected confidence and said, “I think it’s going great.”

Schumer said he is “getting closer and closer” when CNN asked him if he agreed with the assessment of major Republicans that a deal is close.

“We are exchanging back and forth paper and I hope we can reach an agreement soon,” said Schumer, who added, “I think there is a genuine desire to reach an agreement on all four sides.”

Meetings between top congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, which concluded shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, represent the most significant step in weeks to reach an agreement on Covid aid and government funding before lawmakers leave Washington for the holidays and major pandemic relief programs expire at the end of the year.

Talks between Hill leaders took place Tuesday after the formal presentation earlier this week of the legislative text on a potential Covid stimulus plan proposed by a bipartisan coalition with the aim of finding common ground between a deeply Congress divided.

Instead of publishing a single legislative package, the bipartisan coalition split its proposal into two bills, one addressing the thorny issues of state and local protections of aid and civil liability, while the other focused on provisions expected to gain broad bipartisan support.

The consensus bill introduced by the bipartisan coalition that ignores this issue, as well as civil liability protections, could serve as a starting point already prepared for what could be agreed more broadly about Covid’s replacement.

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