Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Odds Of A Stimulus Bill Remain Slim
The Wall Street Journal: Pelosi Tells White House It Has Until Tuesday To Reach Relief Deal Before Election
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) told the White House it had until Tuesday to reach a deal with Democrats, or legislation to provide additional coronavirus relief to struggling households and businesses couldn’t be passed before the election. “That depends on the administration,” Mrs. Pelosi said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” when asked about whether a deal could still be struck. The 48-hour deadline “only relates to if we want to get it done before the election, which we do,” she said. (Peterson, 10/18)
The Hill: Pelosi: White House Made 'Unacceptable Changes' To Testing Language During Negotiations On Coronavirus Stimulus
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accused White House officials of making "unacceptable changes" to language concerning funding for COVID-19 testing efforts in the framework of an emerging coronavirus relief deal. In a letter to House Democrats released by the Speaker's office Sunday afternoon, Pelosi accused the White House of refusing to commit funding for a national coronavirus testing and contact tracing program as well as trying to create a "slush fund" from which the administration could offer grants to various entities at its own discretion. (Bowden, 10/18)
Politico: McConnell Sets Up Votes On Narrow Coronavirus Relief Proposal
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday that the Senate will hold two votes next week on a half-trillion-dollar coronavirus relief package, even as the chances of Congress approving a broader deal before the election remain slim. The Senate will vote Tuesday on additional money for the Paycheck Protection Program and Wednesday on the rest of the package. Democrats have already dismissed the GOP approach as inadequate, and are not expected to support the proposals. (Levine, 10/17)
The Hill: Schumer Labels McConnell's Scheduled Coronavirus Stimulus Vote As 'A Stunt'
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) labeled Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) scheduled coronavirus stimulus vote for this week as “a stunt.” Schumer in a Sunday call with reporters commented on McConnell’s scheduling of two stimulus votes this week, including a stand-alone Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) bill Tuesday and a $500 billion package that Democrats rejected last month. (Coleman, 10/18)
The Hill: Expiring Benefits Raise Economic Stakes Of Stalled Stimulus Talks
Washington's inability to pass a much-needed stimulus bill ahead of November's election is expected to inflict further damage on the economy, potentially kneecapping its recovery as the expiration of key benefits looms. Haggling between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has progressed, with Mnuchin saying he is willing to sign on to a $1.8 trillion deal, but the sides say they remain far apart on key issues. (Elis, 10/18)
