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WASHINGTON, DC: The United States Capitol is seen from behind a police barricade on October 16, 2020 in Washington. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)
A potential deal on another large economic stimulus package could get a House vote before the election on Nov. 3, but not a Senate vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday, conceding prospects for any big bargain in the other chamber were dim.
Asked if there would be a deal before the Nov. 3 election, Pelosi said, “That would be my hope. We could do it in the House, you hear what the Leader in the Senate is saying. Then it’s really up to president.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he would bring a deal reached by Pelosi and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to the Senate floor, but declined to say when or whether he would support it. He has also been reported to have urged the White House to not make a deal before the election to avoid splitting the Senate GOP caucus.
Pelosi and Mnuchin were set to talk again Thursday on a deal, and Pelosi, in her MSNBC appearance, said the two have made progress and have farmed some details out to the chairmen and ranking members of various congressional committees.
“We’re about – pretty soon – ready to put pen to paper. We actually already are making certain proposals in that regard,” she said.
The talks continue despite President Donald Trump’s tweet late Wednesday expressing doubt Democrats want a deal. “Just don’t see any way Nancy Pelosi and Cryin’ Chuck Schumer will be willing to do what is right for our great American workers, or our wonderful USA itself, on Stimulus,” Trump tweeted, referring to Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Even if Pelosi and Mnuchin were able to get to a deal, and get it put into agreed-upon legislative language quickly, time is running out for action prior to the elections. House members are out of Washington and will have a 24-hour notice to return if a vote is planned. The Senate is set to vote Monday on Amy Coney Barrett to join the U.S. Supreme Court, in what could be senators’ final pre-election vote before hitting the campaign trail.
