Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Monday that congressional leaders and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would reach a deal on a massive coronavirus stimulus package later in the day.
“We’re very close to reaching a deal, very close, and our goal is to reach a deal today, and we’re hopeful, even confident that we will meet that goal,” Schumer said from the Senate floor.
Schumer and Mnuchin met at least seven times on Sunday, and restarted negotiations around 9 a.m. on Monday.
But Schumer said that there were still a “few outstanding issues,” including hundreds of billions in aid to corporations that Democrats are calling a “slush fund.” Democrats have also pointed to a provision they say would let Mnuchin authorize loans or grants but not disclose the recipients for six months.
Democrats late Sunday blocked the stimulus package from moving forward in the Senate.
“The bill still includes something that most Americans don’t want to see. Large corporate bailouts with almost no strings attached,” Schumer said on Monday.
Schumer’s comments come after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) lashed out at Democrats from the floor.
“This body can’t get its act together. And the only reason it can’t get its act together is right over here on the other side of the aisle,” McConnell said.
Tensions were running high in the Senate on Monday, as Democrats temporarily blocked Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) from speaking from the floor as they tried to get clarity on the chamber’s schedule. Collins called the tactics “unbelievable.”
The back-and-forth on the floor comes as Schumer and Mnuchin have signaled they are closer to a deal. Mnuchin told reporters that he expects a deal and a “big vote” on Monday.
Schumer added that he expected to “conclude negotiations today.”
“The negotiations continue no more than 30 feet away from the floor of the Senate in our offices where the real progress is taking place. Once we have an agreement that everyone can get behind, we’re prepared to speed up the consideration of that agreement on the floor,” Schumer added.