Pelosi would rather have nothing than Republicans' $1.3T coronavirus aid package: Meadows
The number marks a concession from the White House.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday of rejecting Republicans' latest compromise of a $1.3 trillion coronavirus aid package that would include enhanced unemployment insurance and help for small businesses.
"We brought up the number. I had a conversation with Speaker Pelosi. And even on her $2.2 trillion counteroffer she can’t tell the American people nor me what is in that," Meadows said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "She puts forth a number, suggests that she came down, and yet she's willing to turn down $1.3 trillion of help that goes to the American people because she would rather them have nothing than to give way on what her fantasy might be."
The $1.3 trillion package would also include funding for schools, childcare and hospitals "at levels [Pelosi] would agree with," Meadows said.
The number marks a concession on behalf of the White House, which had originally supported a relief package with a price tag closer to $1 trillion – with some Republicans even discussing a $500 billion plan.
Pelosi, with Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., left, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Aug. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Associated Press)
Meadows insisted such a plan could pass the Senate.
"That would require Sen. Schumer, as you know, anything in the Senate requires both Democrats and Republicans," he said. "But Speaker Pelosi, if she worked with Chuck Schumer, I can tell you all of those things that I just mentioned are available for the American people, and Speaker Pelosi is saying no."
Discussions about a potential relief package broke down earlier in August. Two of the big sticking points at the time were state and local funding, as well as unemployment, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the time.
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Pelosi blamed the stalled negotiations on President Trump during an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union" last week.
"More than 4 million have been added to the infection list because we paused,” Pelosi said last week, referring to delays in testing and tracing. "Over 80,000 more people have died, because they paused. ... Trump fiddles while Rome burns, while America burns."
FOX Business' Brittany De Lea and Fox News' Andrew O'Reilly contributed to this report.
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