WASHINGTON–Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) Thursday called Democratic leaders’ push to base coronavirus relief negotiations off a $908 billion bipartisan compromise “a move in the right direction,” but added underlying policy differences remain.
Democratic leaders had signaled Wednesday they were prepared to reduce their demands for the next round of coronavirus relief, fueling hopes that an agreement could be reached with Republicans by year’s end to boost struggling businesses and households.
Democrats previously had coalesced around a $2.4 trillion bill passed in the House, which contained measures that included funding for state and local governments and food stamps, among others. GOP proposals have excluded such items. Republican leaders’ most recent bill cost around $500 billion. But on Tuesday, a new bipartisan group unveiled the $908 billion proposal, designed to help buoy workers and businesses through March.
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