Senator says Donald Trump, McConnell likely to back COVID-19 relief

A proposed COVID-19 relief bill is expected to get backing from President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell but it won't include $1,200 in direct payments to most Americans, a Republican senator involved in bipartisan talks says.

“President Trump has indicated that he would sign a $908 billion pack — re's only one $908 billion packs out re and it’s ours,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Sunday. “ pain of American people is driving this, and I’m optimistic that both those leaders will come on board.”

With time running out, lawmakers from both parties were closing in on final langu that would provide roughly $300 in extra federal weekly unemployment benefits, leaving issue of cash payments for President-elect Joe Biden to wrestle over with a new Congress next year.

pack to be released Monday would be attached to a larger year-end spending bill needed to avert a government shutdown this coming weekend.

direct payments were popular when y were first distributed after pandemic hit, and Biden on Friday had expressed hope that a second wave might come after weekend negotiations.

But senators involved in talks said checks won’t be included as part of compromise, even as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and ors said that could cause m to oppose measure.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illiis, second-ranking Democrat, indicated that excluding checks while assuring small-business aid and renters’ assistance was only way to reach an agreement with Republicans who are putting firm limits on bill’s final price tag.

“ $1,200 check, it cost we believe nationally $300 billion, to give you an idea,” he said. “ Democrats have always wanted a larger number, but we were told we couldn’t get anything through Republicans, except this $900 billion level.”

plan being worked on by a group of Republican and Democratic senators are less than half of Democrats’ push of $2.2 trillion and nearly double $500 billion “targeted” pack proposed by McConnell, R-Ky.

Cassidy agreed that a new round of direct checks “maybe a go” at some point. “This is t a stimulus bill, it’s a relief bill,” he said. “And it’s something for next three to four months to help those in greatest need.”

proposal is expected to include $300 per week in bonus federal unemployment payments, providing relief just as emergency aid payments at regular benefit levels are set to expire at year’s end. It would extend a freeze on evictions for people who cant pay ir rent and reauthorize Paycheck Protection Program to give second round of subsidies to businesses struggling through pandemic.

Still, potential sticking points remain.

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said last week y wouldn’t support $908 billion proposals if it did t include checks for families, and were joined by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are also against shielding businesses from lawsuits claiming negligence for COVID-19 outbreaks, a provision pushed by Republicans.

While favouring $1,200 checks, Biden said emerging compromise was "immediately needed” and that additional assistance could follow later.

On Sunday, lawmakers involved in negotiations said direct payments would have to wait until after Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. At that time, Biden will face a new Congress as vaccines are being distributed, with a narrowed Democratic majority in House and a closely divided Senate potentially split 50-50 if Democrats are able to prevail in two ruff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Sanders was t involved in negotiations and "his characterization is just t accurate” about potential liability protections for businesses. direct payments, he said, will be a task for Biden.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said bipartisan group was focused on extending most urgent aid for next four months.

“Every indication says more money is needed; we see that,” he said. “This gets us through basically lifelines that people need and small businesses that can survive and t go under.”

Manchin said Biden's team, when in power, "can put toger a different proposal that takes us furr down road for more recovery.”

Durbin spoke on ABC’s “This Week,” Cassidy appeared on “Fox News Sunday,” Warner was on CNN’s “State of Union” and Manchin was interviewed on NBC’s “Meet Press.

(Im: AP)