Nancy Pelosi has 'Trump over a barrel' when it comes to potential coronavirus bill
It might be a little while until Congress passes a bipartisan bill to provide relief in the wake of the novel coronavirus spread, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appears to have all the leverage, Politico reports. In fact, she may have President Trump "over a barrel."
Pelosi's plan will be to quickly put together a bill with her Democrats' preferred measures like unemployment insurance, food security, paid sick leave, and free COVID-19 testing.
When she brings it to the House, per Politico, she'll essentially be daring Republicans to vote against it. Even if they do, she's also reportedly negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, with whom she's cut deals in the past.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It further helps Pelosi's case that there is reportedly overlap between what she and the White House desire, including some kind of paid sick leave program. But, again, Politico notes the administration will have to take the House's lead when ironing out the details.
It won't be a completely smooth process. For example, Politico foresees some holdups over the White House's anticipated stimulus proposal for tourism, hospitality, and transportation business, but for the time being it seems Pelosi has a decent shot at landing what she wants. Read more at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Which way will Trump go on Iran?Today’s Big Question Diplomatic talks set to be held in Turkey on Friday, but failure to reach an agreement could have ‘terrible’ global ramifications
-
High Court action over Cape Verde tourist deathsThe Explainer Holidaymakers sue TUI after gastric illness outbreaks linked to six British deaths
-
The battle over the Irish language in Northern IrelandUnder the Radar Popularity is soaring across Northern Ireland, but dual-language sign policies agitate division as unionists accuse nationalists of cultural erosion
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
