Pelosi suggests coronavirus stimulus deal is near, but timing unsure

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday signaled that a deal on the third coronavirus stimulus package initially drafted by Senate Republicans is imminent, praising Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Democrats for their work in negotiations.

“I’m optimistic that we can get something done. I’ve praised Chuck and Senate Democrats for staying strong,” Pelosi told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

“We’ve been working together in terms of the policy issues there, great progress has been made,” she continued.

When asked by Mitchell if she believed that the massive bill could be passed on Tuesday, Pelosi replied: “I think so. Yeah, I do.”

Schumer also hinted that the two sides were close to a deal earlier in the day.  He said from the Senate floor that negotiations were in the “red zone” and that lawmakers were on the “2-yard line.”

Senate Republicans sent their $1 trillion package to Democrats late Thursday night and negotiations began on Friday. Since, the parties have been locked in deliberations, going late into Saturday night without a deal. 

Late Monday, Schumer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that they expected passage of the bill on Tuesday.

The revised bill, which is estimated to cost $2 trillion, would provide hundreds of billions of dollars to small business and impacted industries, such as airlines. The bill would also give direct payments to Americans and includes some income caps.