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Negotiations continue on COVID-19 stimulus bill, unemployment benefits continue to be sticking point

Negotiations continue on COVID-19 stimulus bill, unemployment benefits continue to be sticking point
Posted at 5:34 AM, Aug 03, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-03 08:59:02-04

Negotiations on a new coronvirus stimulus package are set to continue Monday between lawmakers and White House officials.

Congressional leaders are expected to meet with Trump administration officials to resume discussions. A swift, bipartisan agreement seems unlikely.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dug in on their opposing positions Sunday. Each doubled down on what has been the main sticking point: The extension of federal enhanced unemployment benefits that expired Friday.

Pelosi said the amount could go down as unemployment drops, but for now, benefits need to stay at $600 a week. Mnuchin argued that the White House had proposed a one-week $600 unemployment benefits extension as negotiations continued, but said Democrats rebuffed that offer.