House Passes $2.2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Bill But Mitch McConnell Says Price is “Outlandish”

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill as negotiations with the White House appear to have stalled, CBS News reports.

The House voted 214-207 to approve the bill, which every Republican and 18 Democrats voting against the measure.

The bill is a slimmed down version of the $3.4 trillion bill the House passed in May.

The bill would provide $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits, another round of $1,200 payments, and provide funding to cash-strapped cities and states and schools.

Negotiations stall:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that the two sides were still far apart on issues, primarily funding for state and local governments.

Pelosi said there is "a stark difference not just of dollars, but of values."

Pelosi said the two sides are also “way off” on a child tax credit but were “in the ballpark” on health care funding and PPP aid.

"Hopefully, we can find our common ground on this and do so soon," she said. "People say, 'Isn't something better than nothing?' No, there can be an opportunity cost.”

GOP rejects bill:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday that "the thought that Senate Republicans would go up to $2.2 trillion is outlandish."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called Pelosi “unserious” on Thursday.

"Nancy Pelosi is not being serious. If she becomes serious, then we can have a discussion here," McEnany said, adding that the White House’s $1.6 trillion offer is a "good proposal, but it is one that [Pelosi] is not interested in."

 

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