Lawmakers are still gridlocked over the next relief package as they fail to come to terms over the cost of the package. Still, they are taking every chance to hold the other side responsible for no deal so far. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did the same on Monday, saying that Republicans are opposing larger spending and that President Donald Trump just cares about having his name on the coronavirus stimulus checks.
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Pelosi, in an interview on Monday on the Sway podcast (hosted by New York Times op-ed writer Kara Swisher), noted that Democrats are holding out for a bigger agreement. Further, she criticized the Senate Republicans for not agreeing to commit more funds to help Americans amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Pelosi also criticized Trump, saying the President only wants to have his name printed on the coronavirus stimulus checks.
"We have to meet their needs, not give the president a chance to just say, 'I'm going to put my name on a check, send it out, and don't talk to me about food, rent, first responders, health care workers, the virus, or anything else,'" she said.
Pelosi also talked about the Senate’s so-called skinny proposal, which was proposed a couple of weeks back. Democrats rejected the bill, resulting in it failing in the Senate.
"Fourteen million children in America are food insecure and their families as well," Pelosi said. "None of that is covered in what the Republicans have put forth. The virus needs to be crushed."
Pelosi playing ‘pointless political games’: McConnell
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell slammed Pelosi for blocking the relief package for Americans. In a tweet, McConnell accused her of playing "pointless political games" at the expense of Americans.
McConnell also noted that "Pelosi's own House Democrats" are growing tired of her tactics that have so far prevented the coronavirus stimulus checks from reaching Americans. He said that "people are hurting" and "need help."
“But she insists anything short of her multi-trillion wish list would make Democrats 'a cheap date.' What a joke,” McConnell said in a tweet.
Despite the criticism, Pelosi continues to push for the lofty stimulus package. Last week, Pelosi said that she is unable to understand why Republicans want a package that is less than $2.2 trillion.
"When we go into negotiation, it's about the allocation of the resources," Pelosi said. “…it's hard to see how we can go any lower when you only have greater needs."
Pelosi recently welcomed Trump’s comment in which he asked the Republicans to consider a larger package. In a tweet last week, Trump said he liked “the larger numbers." Senate Republicans, however, do not back Trump’s call for higher numbers.
"Now the president's coming in and saying we can maybe go to $1.5 trillion." Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley said. "He better be careful of that because I don't think that will get through the United States Senate."
