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At the end of June, the extra $600 per week of federal unemployment from the CARES Act expired. Congress couldn’t come to an agreement on an extension or replacement bill for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, Monday it was confirmed that Congress has resumed discussions on a potential relief bill. Lawmakers are still at an impasse over the exact contents of such a measure.
Oddly, congressional Democrats and the White House negotiation team have reported more progress than congressional Republicans. This has highlighted a growing divide in the GOP ranks, with some lawmakers breaking with the White House over how to address the pandemic. Many congressional Republicans are loath to sign off on even more federal spending. Others think the White House isn’t going far enough and want to see more spending for testing and tracing.
One of the biggest obstacles in negotiation currently is one of Mitch McConnell’s “redline” issues: the liability shield. McConnell co-authored part of a proposed relief bill that would include a clause that prevents employees from suing their employers if they get COVID on the job. Democrats have said that such a provision if laughable and won’t pass it.
McConnell, for his own part, has said any bill that doesn’t include the liability shield will not be brought to the Senate floor. As Senate Majority Leader, McConnell does have that authority. However, it’s unclear if the White House is as adamant about the measure as McConnell is. Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, has stated that the liability shield is “not a priority” for the White House.
At present, it’s hard to say what a bill both sides could agree on would look like. Republicans are divided, and many have broken with the party leadership on what they would or would not vote for in a bill. Democrats, on the other hand, are adamant about needing money for states to expand testing and tracing, as well as unemployment benefit extensions.
The White House seems to be in accordance with Democrats. President Donald Trump has signaled his desire to extend unemployment benefits, to get direct payments to taxpayers, and to further a partial eviction ban. As some people struggle to pay for Medicare or Humira, Trump hopes to secure the working-class vote by signing off on direct payments. The president faces challenger Joe Biden in the general election in three months.
