Lawmakers Close In On Second Coronavirus Aid Package

WASHINGTON, DC — An agreement on a second coronavirus federal economic relief package could come soon, but not before lawmakers left Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have vowed not to go home for the year until a new deal is reached, Politico and others have reported. What is in the works now is a $900 billion package that would include direct payments of $600 or $700 to all Americans, according to The Washington Post.

Some details are still to be worked out.

A hoped-for announcement Wednesday failed to materialize as lawmakers across the spectrum hammered out the details of the sprawling legislation and top negotiators continued to trade offers.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, told The Associated Press leadership negotiators are closing in on an agreement that would extend direct payments of $500-$600 to most Americans but would deny Democratic negotiators' long-sought aid to state and local governments.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent and two-time Democratic primary presidential candidate, was pushing for higher payments during negotiations on Wednesday, the Post reported.

This week had already been dubbed "make or break" on the possibility of a second coronavirus relief bill getting through before the end of the year. Coronavirus-related economic relief has not been passed since a $2.2 trillion package in April, as several times negotiations between Democrats and Republicans have been stalled.

President-elect Joe Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and deliver direct aid to the jobless and hungry, even though the package falls short of what Democrats want. He called the emerging version “an important down payment" and promised more help next year.

Republicans, too, are anxious to approve some aid before going home for the year.

“We’re still close, and we’re gonna get there,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told reporters Wednesday evening as he left the Capitol.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.