Democratic Leaders Back Small Relief Bill As Starting Point For Talks

The Hill: Pelosi, Schumer Endorse $908 Billion Plan As Basis For Stimulus Talks 
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday threw their support behind using a bipartisan, compromise plan as the basis for COVID-19 relief talks. “While we made a new offer to Leader McConnell and Leader McCarthy on Monday, in the spirit of compromise we believe the bipartisan framework introduced by Senators yesterday should be used as the basis for immediate bipartisan, bicameral negotiations,” the Democratic leaders said in a joint statement, referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-K.y) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). (Elis, 12/2)

The Wall Street Journal: Coronavirus-Stimulus Efforts Pick Up Speed 
Democratic leaders signaled Wednesday they were prepared to reduce their demands for the next round of coronavirus relief, fueling hopes that an agreement could be reached with Republicans by year’s end to boost struggling businesses and households. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the chamber’s Democratic leader, said that a new, bipartisan $908 billion coronavirus relief proposal released Tuesday should serve as the starting point for talks to try to resolve months of disagreement with GOP leaders and the White House. (Peterson, 12/2)

CNN: Stimulus Negotiations: 3 Routes To Covid Relief All Face Fierce Headwinds 
It's almost like everyone woke up Tuesday and realized that there was a massive cliff coming at the end of December if lawmakers couldn't find agreement on a stimulus bill. The flurry of activity from the unveiling of a bipartisan framework to an announcement from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he was going to present another targeted relief bill to his members might have left folks who aren't at the US Capitol every day with the impression that something was going to come together soon. Reality check: it's not. (Fox, 12/2)

The Washington Post: States Race To Craft Their Own Economic Relief Plans, Frustrated With Federal Inaction 
Governors and state lawmakers across the country are racing to authorize millions of dollars in new coronavirus stimulus aid, aiming to plug gaping holes in their local economies before the end of the year. The burst of activity has intensified in recent weeks after months of false starts in Washington, where congressional lawmakers repeatedly have failed to deliver additional support for a growing number of Americans who are still out of work, struggling to pay their bills or facing severe financial straits. (Romm, 12/2)

In related news on COVID's economic toll —

Los Angeles Times: L.A. Mayor Announces $800 Stipends For Food Service Workers 
Los Angeles will offer a one-time $800 stipend to employees who work in food service industries, including restaurants, breweries and food stands, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday. The Secure Emergency Relief for Vulnerable Employees, or SERVE, initiative will give 4,000 workers the cash using money from the nonprofit Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, Garcetti said in an evening briefing. The news comes as the number of Californians hospitalized with the coronavirus reached more than 8,000 and 40 more deaths were reported in L.A. County on Wednesday, leading to restrictions on outdoor dining. (Reyes-Velarde, 12/2)

NPR: Study: Lifting Of Eviction Moratoriums Linked To Thousands Of Excess Deaths
Like much of the response to the coronavirus across the United States, the approach to housing during the pandemic has been an uneven patchwork. Forty-three states and Washington, D.C., put in eviction moratoriums starting in March and April, but 27 of them ended in the spring and summer. Then in September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered a national stop to evictions. The CDC eviction ban isn't automatic and doesn't cover everyone. Thousands of people are still being kicked out of their homes. (Kelly and Pao, 12/2)