House Democrats call the U.S. to reaching 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths a “grim milestone,” and are continuing to urge Republicans to work with them to pass another federal coronavirus relief package.
Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes says Senate Republicans are too focused on the upcoming presidential election — and filling an open U.S. Supreme Court seat — to work on federal pandemic aid. A recent survey of congressional aides said they don’t expect Congress to pass another round of relief before the election.
“Nine hundred-ish Americans are still dying every single day. And instead of focusing on a death toll that in one week will produce far more casualties than what we saw on 9/11, the Republicans are going to hold hearings on a Supreme Court Justice. That’s their focus. And so that’s our job. Our job is to say that Americans are dying, and they are doing nothing,” Himes said.
Himes blames President Trump for downplaying the virus. Last week, Trump supported the $1.5 trillion bi-partisan House economic relief bill.
Himes said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is ready to negotiate for a new economic relief package. Senate Republicans have not produced another bill since their latest $300 billion proposal failed two weeks ago.
“Pelosi passes a bill in the House, indicates a willingness to come down a full trillion dollars. And the Republicans, not only do they not have a plan, but they can't pass anything in the Senate that they control,” Himes said.
