Sen. Kamala Harris hopes to offer recurring $2,000 payments in the next COVID-19 relief package.
The California native shared her hopes during a recent podcast interview with Byron Allen and Natasha S. Alford. Harris was asked, “What can we do to get some of the stimulus money to apply towards SNAP. So these families don’t have to worry about feeding their children?” Harris responded by telling the media duo that she hopes to increase “SNAP benefits by at least 15%" and offer families recurring $2,000 payments until the pandemic ends.
The U.S. Senator's plans may be a bit ambitious given the latest movement on Capitol Hill. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump and Rep. Nancy Pelosi engaged in talks to put forth a COVID-19 relief package ranging between $1.8 and $2.2 trillion. House Democrats have already pushed a version of the relief package through once and President Donald Trump has voiced his support for it.
“Absolutely, I would. I would pay more. I would go higher. Go big or go home, I said it yesterday. Go big or go home,” Trump said during a phone interview on Thursday.
However, Sen. Mitch McConnell has stood in the way of putting forth a COVID-19 relief package to the American public. Senate Republicans shot down the most recent version of the package on Thursday. Instead of package ranging between $1.8 and $2.2 trillion, Senate Republicans hope to offer a relief package that is around $500 billion instead.
"My members think half a trillion dollars, highly targeted, is the best way to go," McConnell said.
With less than a month until the election, it does not appear that members of Congress will come to a deal before November 3. Still, Senate Republicans have said that they will continue to review proposals that put in front of them, but the price will always remain an issue.
"There’s an openness to continue negotiating, but the current top line is an obstacle," a source told The Hill.
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