(The Slice): In her briefing Friday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave a vague response when asked if a second COVID relief package would be approved by Christmas. She replied, "Don't worry about a date. It will be in sufficient time," but committed to staying in Washington to work on finishing the deal.
Going into the holidays during a pandemic, struggling Americans worry about enduringing job loss this winter with no help in sight. Many social service groups being barred from lending their normal level of support. With congressional negotiations being at a standstill through the summer and fall, anxiety about the government's ability to come to the rescue again is high. This stall has caused worrying acrosshe board from businesses to individuals, while alarming news of skryocketing COVID-19 cases speak of grimmer days ahead.
"We feel very excited about the prospect of a bi-partisan bill," Pelosi said projecting optimism that there has been progress that can turn into a concrete solution., despite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's pushing the so called $500 billion "skinny plan. (we think) revision of a Senate Republican plan. Her willingness to compromise is spurred by Joe Biden becoming president and the arrival of the Coroanvirus vaccine. There is 16 billion dollars in the package dedicated to vaccine distribution.
“The alarming November jobs report is another urgent warning that real relief is needed to crush the virus, stop the mass layoffs of essential workers and put money in the pockets of the American people," wrote pelosi
The need for a package to be approved is more urgent now than ever. Provisions in the CARES Act that was passed in march run out by the end of the year, peotentially leaving millions unable to pay their bills, possibly facing hunger and homelesness. And the $908 billion proposal on the table does not include a second stimulus payment for everyone. Only individuals that meet certai qaulifications will be eleigibale for direct payment this time around.
If the Relief Bill does not get approved nearly 14 million Americans could lose unemployment benefits. The current employment rate coming from the Labor Department's November jobs report is 6.7%. The pandemic has frozen seasonal employment that usually contributes to an increase in employment this time of the year. There were 245,000 jobs added last month, far below the 440,000 the Wall Street journal expected. That's a drop of nearly half within a month and a loss of 10 million pre-COVID jobs.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue on The Hill today as the jobless anxiously await support. . .The bill has been in negotiation for more than 6 months. Pelosi claims there is momentum, but they are waiting on the omnibus document before final decisions are made. Previous;y, Pelosi rejected a a stimulus package that Republicans presented, but now favors approving one that is around a trilion dollars less. Once the prolonged decision is finally made, this could mean the next relief check is less than the first one.
The answer to a question directed to WH Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow at the White House sums up where the U.S. economy currently stands. Kudlow suggests that under the circumstances the unstable economy is not "rock bottom," although he acknowledges the hardship Americans are facing.
REPORTER: "Where is POTUS when Americans continue to suffer?"
KUDLOW: “Well, look, there's still a lot of suffering out there I agree. But I will also argue the economy has registered a very strong comeback from the peak of the pandemic contraction, including today's jobs numbers with the 6.7% unemployment right now.
There's still over 10 million people who are jobless. And that's not good. That is hardship. And by the way, that should be a target with any assistance package. However, at the peak it was -- was 23 million. And now we got 150 American, 150 million Americans working. And that's way up – and the 10 million unemployed is way down. So I like that.”
With the current surge in Coronavirus cases having an impact on the labor force, receiving help from the federal government is the only hope some Ameicans have in falling off waht some in the media are caling a "humanitarian cliff."