The White House on Wednesday pushed for Congress to take a narrow coronavirus economic relief bill which Democrats have rejected, while a top Senate Democrat said real action may come shortly after the Sept. seven U.S. Labor Day holiday.
With the breakdown of discussions between the White House and leading congressional Democrats currently in its 12th day, Senate Republicans are floating a"skinny" version of their $1 trillion bill proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for a potential vote in the Republican-led room.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows called on Democrats to use Saturday's vote on U.S. Postal Service laws in the House of Representatives as a car for coronavirus relief including stimulation checks for individuals and financing for personal protective gear and colleges.
"I believe the outlook for a lanky deal is better than it has ever been and yet we are still there," Meadows told reporters. "If Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi moves ahead a single invoice on postal... let's add in what we could agree on."
But Democrats have flatly rejected White House and Republican calls for narrow legislation, saying Americans need broad legislation and accusing Republicans of failing to grasp the severity of the crisis.
House Democratic leaders are resisting calls from some centrist Democrats, such as Representative Derek Kilmer, to hold another vote Saturday on expanding federal unemployment benefits.
"Saturday attention is postal," a senior Democratic aide said, adding that there's"more consensus building (the) caucus to be done."
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine stated that he doesn't expect the White House to get serious about discussions until after next week's Republican presidential election conference, where he expects Republicans to tout President Donald Trump's executive orders on coronavirus relief.
"After we get from the Republican tradition, the week before Labor Day, you are likely to see considerable discussions restart. And that means we could do something maybe right after Labor Day, when we return," Kaine said in an online meeting with Politico.
The Senate is due to return from recess on Sept. 8 and the House on Sept. 14.
With the breakdown of discussions between the White House and leading congressional Democrats currently in its 12th day, Senate Republicans are floating a"skinny" version of their $1 trillion bill proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for a potential vote in the Republican-led room.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows called on Democrats to use Saturday's vote on U.S. Postal Service laws in the House of Representatives as a car for coronavirus relief including stimulation checks for individuals and financing for personal protective gear and colleges.
"I believe the outlook for a lanky deal is better than it has ever been and yet we are still there," Meadows told reporters. "If Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi moves ahead a single invoice on postal... let's add in what we could agree on."
But Democrats have flatly rejected White House and Republican calls for narrow legislation, saying Americans need broad legislation and accusing Republicans of failing to grasp the severity of the crisis.
House Democratic leaders are resisting calls from some centrist Democrats, such as Representative Derek Kilmer, to hold another vote Saturday on expanding federal unemployment benefits.
"Saturday attention is postal," a senior Democratic aide said, adding that there's"more consensus building (the) caucus to be done."
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine stated that he doesn't expect the White House to get serious about discussions until after next week's Republican presidential election conference, where he expects Republicans to tout President Donald Trump's executive orders on coronavirus relief.
"After we get from the Republican tradition, the week before Labor Day, you are likely to see considerable discussions restart. And that means we could do something maybe right after Labor Day, when we return," Kaine said in an online meeting with Politico.
The Senate is due to return from recess on Sept. 8 and the House on Sept. 14.