House postpones stimulus vote after Pelosi, Mnuchin meeting
The Treasury Secretary and Speaker of the House couldn't reach an agreement, although they said they're making progress. So maybe it might pass, although McConnell is against it, so it may not get through the Senate.
The Treasury Secretary and Speaker of the House couldn't reach an agreement, although they said they're making progress. So maybe it might pass, although McConnell is against it, so it may not get through the Senate.
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The House on Wednesday called off a vote on a $2.2 trillion COVID-19 economic stimulus package to allow more time for negotiations.
The decision comes after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin emerged from a 90-minute meeting without an agreement on a new deal with time running out to pass a measure before November's election.
Mnuchin said the two sides had "made a lot of progress over the last few days" finding common ground on elements of the package including direct payments, small business loans and airline aid.
The measure includes $600 in weekly unemployment benefits through January and a second round of $1,200 payments mailed to taxpayers as well as a $500 check for dependents. It also sets aside $182 billion for grade schools, $39 billion for post-secondary institutions and $57 billion for childcare support, and would add finds to the Paycheck Protection Program.
A House vote on the bill does not guarantee the measure will be signed as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has already opposed it.
House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer, however, told reporters Wednesday that lawmakers have a "responsibility to act" on pandemic relief.