They slashed their original proposal of nearly $1 trillion for state, local and tribal governments in half, and cut the aid for the beleaguered U.S. Postal Service to $15 billion from $25 billion. But Democrats maintained a provision that would revive a lapsed $600 enhanced federal unemployment benefit and another provision that would send another round of $1,200 stimulus checks to Americans. But the new plan’s price tag is significantly less than the House’s $3.4 trillion measure from May, which Ms. Pelosi had previously used as the opening bid in negotiations. With mounting signs that the country’s economic recovery is stalling and rising public pressure from moderate Democratic lawmakers to act, Ms. Pelosi directed her top lieutenants to create the smaller package that could serve as the foundation for continuing talks.

Source: New York Times September 29, 2020 02:15 UTC