Negotiations for a coronavirus relief bill have come to a standstill. Republicans continue to push for a short-term measure that Democrats say delays progress toward much-needed financial relief for citizens who cannot pay their bills.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi noted that Democrats want $1 trillion for food assistance and election assistance so that states could provide mail-in voting due to the pandemic.
READ MORE: Despite virus threat, Black voters wary of voting by mail
As theGrio previously reported, President Trump is not a fan of mail-in voting. He suggested on Thursday that he’d rather postpone the November election, which he is not authorized to do without congressional approval.
Trump believes that allowing voters to send in their ballots by mail will encourage fraud. With Trump’s skepticism, it isn’t likely that Republicans will agree to pass a bill that advances the Democrats’ request.
The federal unemployment assistance of $600 per week expired on Friday, and it doesn’t look like additional funds will be going into the pockets of Americans that were hit hard by the pandemic any time soon.
Senate Republicans offered to extend the $600 benefit for one week or give states the choice of receiving $200 per week or sufficient funds to replace two-thirds of prior income through the end of the calendar year. Democrats rejected the offer, and the Senate adjourned until Monday.
READ MORE: Roughly 95% of Black-owned businesses shut out of coronavirus relief
At her weekly press briefing on Friday, Pelosi urged Republicans to sit down with Democrats and get the work done. “Let’s recognize people need $600. Let’s recognize state and local need help with allaying the money the they have spent fighting the virus and the revenue loss.”
Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows accused Democrats of never attempting to counter GOP offers. Lawmakers will meet again on Monday, but many officials are not optimistic about finding a solution.
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