Miles Apart on Coronavirus Relief

Democrats and Republicans in Congress started far apart on negotiations over the latest coronavirus stimulus bill last month. They haven’t closed the gap much since — even though extended unemployment benefits expired Friday.

What’s getting in the way of a deal?

The gulf between the two sides’ proposals is one reason for the impasse. “The policy differences are just that significant,” says Emily Cochrane, who covers Congress for The Times.

Democrats’ $3 trillion bill, which the House passed in May, was a nonstarter for Senate Republicans. Their $1 trillion counteroffer, unveiled last week, includes reduced funding for state and local aid and omits Democratic priorities like election security. Democrats want to revive the lapsed $600 weekly unemployment benefit through January; Republicans want to slash it to about $200.

A deal has also remained elusive because Republicans aren’t all in agreement.

President Trump has complicated his own negotiators’ jobs by insulting Democrats and floating proposals, like a payroll tax cut, that congressional Republicans have long since ruled out. “Republican lawmakers and aides acknowledge they lost a week of valuable negotiating time just trying to get on the same page as the administration,” Emily says.