Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Relief Bill Out Of Reach; Both Sides Point Fingers, Senate Leaves Town
Politico: Negotiators 'Miles Apart' On Covid Funding, With Little Hope For Deal Until September
White House officials and top Democrats concede that a coronavirus relief deal is still out of reach after six days without in-person meetings — leaving little hope that relief for millions of Americans will arrive by month’s end. As of Thursday, Washington’s top negotiators have no plans to meet in the coming days, putting an indefinite halt to sputtering talks to assemble the next economic rescue package amid a pandemic that has infected over 5 million Americans. Democrats are now insisting they won’t sit down with White House officials until the GOP agrees to spend at least $2 trillion, double the size of the GOP’s initial proposal, while Republican officials remain unwilling to raise the overall price tag. (Levine and Ferris, 8/13)
USA Today: Trump, Pelosi, McConnell Blame One Another As New Coronavirus Aid Package Remains Out Of Reach
A bipartisan deal for a new coronavirus stimulus package appeared hopelessly out of reach on Thursday, with congressional Democrats blaming Republicans, Republicans blaming Democrats and President Donald Trump suggesting the talks are doomed. The only thing everyone seemed to agree on is that the discussions are at an impasse. (Collins, Hayes and Wu, 8/13)
The Hill: Pelosi: COVID Talks Will Resume When GOP Offers $2T
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that the high-stakes talks between the White House and Democrats on coronavirus relief will resume only when Republicans come to the table with at least $2 trillion. "When they're ready to do that, we'll sit down," Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol. (Lillis, 8/13)
Roll Call: Senate Breaks For August Recess With No Coronavirus Deal In Sight
The Senate has given up on its August legislative session without any agreement on a new COVID-19 relief bill as jet fumes — leaving town in Senate parlance — have overtaken any hope for a bipartisan deal. “If the speaker of the House and the minority leader of the Senate decide to finally let another rescue package move forward for workers and for families, it would take bipartisan consent to meet for legislative business sooner than scheduled,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday. (Lesniewski, 8/13)
In related news —
AP: US Jobless Claims Fall Below 1 Million But Remain High
The number of Americans applying for unemployment dropped below 1 million last week for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak took hold in the U.S. five months ago, but layoffs are still running extraordinarily high. The figures show that the crisis continues to throw people out of work just as the expiration of an extra $600 a week in federal jobless benefits has deepened the hardship for many — and posed another threat to the U.S. economy. (Rugaber, 8/13)
The Wall Street Journal: When Will The Latest Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits Start? What We Know
President Trump signed an executive action on Aug. 8 for a federally funded $300 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits for workers laid off during the coronavirus pandemic. The payments would replace the $600 payments that expired last month. Mr. Trump called on states to provide another $100 a week, but administration officials said the state-funded benefit was optional. Here is what we know about how unemployment benefits will work under Mr. Trump’s latest executive actions. (Chaney, 8/12)
The Wall Street Journal: WSJ Survey: Benefits Of Extra Unemployment Aid Outweigh Work Disincentive
An overwhelming majority of economists surveyed this month by The Wall Street Journal said the economic benefits of additional jobless benefits to help laid-off workers outweighed concern that the extra payments could deter people from going back to work. About 82% of economists in the Journal’s survey said they agreed more with the idea that the extra cash boosted the economy than the idea that it held back the labor market’s recovery. Many of them said the benefits should be extended to support the recovery. (Harrison and DeBarros, 8/13)
