BREAKING: Trump Administration Makes New $916 Billion Offer for COVID-19 Aid

Photo: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration proposed a $916 billion coronavirus relief package on Tuesday, after congressional Democrats had shot down a suggestion for a pared-down plan from the Senate's leading Republican, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he presented the administration's $916 billion plan in a conversation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat. Writing on Twitter, he said it included money for state and local governments, a Democratic priority, and liability protections for businesses, a Republican priority.

Earlier, Tuesday McConnell had suggested that lawmakers pass a targeted coronavirus relief plan that did not include the liability protections or the state and local government aid, since those have been among the more contentious provisions during months of arguments in Washington about a fresh coronavirus package.

But both Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed McConnell's idea and accused him of trying to obstruct bipartisan efforts to reach a deal.

Republicans and Democrats face mounting pressure to deliver a fresh infusion of aid to families and businesses reeling from a pandemic that has killed over 283,000 people in the United States and thrown millions out of work.

Lawmakers enacted $3 trillion in COVID-19 aid earlier this year but have not been able to agree on fresh relief since April. Both House and Senate leaders have said they will not leave town this year without approving more help.

The administration offer tops, just slightly, the $908 billion COVID-19 relief framework that a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate outlined last week. They have been trying to agree on language on liability provisions as well.

Aid to state and local governments is a top Democratic priority for the next round of COVID-19 relief, but is opposed by many Republicans, who say they fear it will be used by those governments to plug non-pandemic-related holes in their budgets.

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