NEWS- From @JakeSherman & me from inside coronavirus relief talks: On UI, Meadows & Mnuchin offered an additional $400 per week until Dec. 15 (their initial offer was an extra $600 per week for a week.) Eviction moratorium: extended through Dec. 15....
/2 On funding for state & local govs: Mnuchin & Meadows offered $ 200 billion (up from “flexibility.” Dems say the GOP only offered $150 billion). Pelosi & Schumer are seeking more than $900 billion. This is a major area of disagreement within talks.
/3 THE DEM CONCESSIONS: Their USPS ask went from $25 billion to $10 billion - subject to a meeting today with the postmaster general that MNUCHIN, MEADOWS, PELOSI and SCHUMER will have. REPUBLICANS are not happy with the concessions Dems made, saying their gives were far bigger
/4 UI remains a huge issue. PELOSI said in the meeting: “I’m not going to tell single moms: ‘Good news! The pandemic continues and we cut your benefit.’”
/5 ELECTIONS: There is significant disagreement here. Republicans believe that Democrats are trying to fund a massive mail-in ballot program, but, as SCHUMER reminded the room, it is up to each state to decide how the money is spent.
/6 ONE FUNNY MOMENT: MNUCHIN noted that he wasn’t an electoral ballot expert, and PELOSI said: “Well, it’s good you admit you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
/7 Much more in Playbook this morning. Note - AT THE END, MEADOWS said, “We are making little progress. There is still the $3.4 trillion donkey or elephant in the room. There will be no number anywhere close.” PELOSI said: “It’s a beautiful swan.”
