The number of coronavirus cases are quickly rising in several parts of the U.S. again. However, the lawmakers aren’t showing the same agility in the matter of the relief package. More lawmakers now believe there are less chances of any coronavirus stimulus package and checks in the lame-duck session as the focus will be on the approaching deadline to decide on government spending.

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Less chances of coronavirus stimulus checks by year end?

Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, says that he is “discouraged” now because there “doesn't seem to be any interest on the Democratic side” so far, as per CNN. Cornyn said that he had been “encouraged” after the president-elect told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer that he wants the package soon, but now there is no interest from the Democrats.

Talking about the cost of the package, Cornyn said that along with what the “topline” is, the “content” in the package is also important, “so that is why it is hard to say what the appropriate topline number is.”

Cornyn, however, admitted that people need support from Congress because many people are still “hurting” and there are a lot of “questions about logistics of the vaccine.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, also voiced similar concerns. Leahy said people are “suffering” because of the pandemic and “we're not doing a damn thing to help them.”

What’s blocking stimulus talks?

One major reason for no stimulus package so far is the differences over the cost of the package. Democrats are demanding a package of over $2 trillion. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, however, is firm on a targeted relief package costing about $500 billion.

Earlier this week, Biden spoke in favor of the HEROES Act, saying that approving it is the right thing to do. The House Democrats approved the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act in May, but the updated version of the bill costs $2.2 trillion.

McConnell, on Tuesday, dismissed the possibility of the HEROES Act by calling it “unserious." He pointed out that some Democrats don’t favor it as well. For a stimulus deal, it is important that Democrats soften their stance. This is because McConnell is expected to play a lead role in the stimulus negotiations now.

“I think right now the Democrats would have to come a long ways back to reality to us to get a bill," Sen. Dick Shelby, a Republican from Alabama, said.

Also, for the deal, it is important that lawmakers come back to the negotiating table. On Tuesday, Pelosi and Schumer even sent a letter to McConnell asking him to resume negotiations “this week" on the stimulus package “for the sake of the country…”

There are, however, reports that staff-level talks are ongoing, and there may be an agreement by the end of the week.

"Our staffs are engaged," Shelby said. "We are making progress. We got a few bumps. You can imagine what they are."

We are now nearing the end of September and there are no signs of another relief package. With less than 50 days to go until the election, the chances of the next relief package and coronavirus stimulus checks are fading fast. Moreover, some Senate members on Capitol Hill are also hinting that there might not be another round of coronavirus stimulus checks before the election.

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Members may leave Capitol Hill early

With Election Day nearing, some Senate members could be planning to leave Capitol Hill early. A point to note is that Congress is not scheduled to go on recess until October. However, there are reports that some Senate Republican members may return home as early as the end of next week to prepare for the election.

Republican senators believe negotiations between the White House and Speaker Nancy Pelosi are unlikely to result in a deal, and that their vulnerable colleagues want to get back to their home state for the election campaign, according to The Hill.

Senate Majority Whip John Thune also admitted that it would be good if vulnerable members return home to campaign. Thune said it would be in the interest of the members to wind up their work on Capitol Hill “by the end of next week with the Jewish holidays coming the following week."

"I'm sure both sides like to have their members out there," Thune said, according to The Hill.

Another GOP senator said the plan for members is to “leave next week after the CR and come back after the election." A short-term spending measure, called a continuing resolution, or CR, would avert a government shutdown at month’s end. This plan, however, is not yet official. Still, it does hint of Senators’ expectations of fading chances of another round of coronavirus stimulus checks.

Slim chances of coronavirus stimulus checks

The Senate won’t be in the office on September 28 and 29 in observance of Yom Kippur. They will be back on September 30 (Wednesday). Also, the Senate is not scheduled to go on recess until October 9. Since no major bills are expected to come up for voting except for the funding stopgap, many members may leave for their home early.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, has indicated that the House will remain in session until there is a deal on the relief package. Pelosi may also use Democratic leverage on the CR to force the Senate to reconsider its exit plans.

Republican lawmakers, however, argue that in case of any breakthrough on the relief package, they can always return to the Capitol Hill to vote. But, the chances of another round of coronavirus stimulus checks before the election are slim despite recent comments from President Donald Trump, who urged Republicans “to go for the much higher numbers” to strike a deal.

Top Democrats, on Tuesday, rejected a $1.5 trillion offer put forward by a bipartisan group, saying it is not enough. This makes it clear there is unlikely to be any deal soon.