Congress

For months, Congress has struggled to reach an agreement on another round of emergency relief for families and businesses after passing the $2.2 trillion CARES Act in March, at the beginning of the pandemic.

President-elect Joe Biden campaigned on a pledge to levy new taxes on wealthy Americans — but that agenda may be stonewalled in the Senate if Republicans maintain their majority control. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called on Democrats to support a targeted coronavirus package, as he noted an uptick in virus cases throughout the U.S.

With control of the Senate hanging in the balance, Republicans and Democrats have already started pouring money into a pair of high-stakes January Senate runoffs in Georgia.

“Business Roundtable congratulates President-elect Biden on his election as 46th President of the United States. We also congratulate Vice President-elect Harris on her historic accomplishment as the first woman, Black woman and person of South Asian descent to be elected Vice President of the United States," the organization, led by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration and all federal and state policymakers."

Sen. McConnell is expected to take prominent role in aid talks, while Pelosi sees no reason to lower demands.

A divided Congress may lead to a smaller coronavirus relief package ‒ here's why.