House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is pushing back on the Trump administration’s demand for the swift passing of an additional $250 billion for small businesses.
Pelosi is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Republican lawmakers to refrain from making an abrupt decision, continue negotiations, and consider including more incentives for minority-owned small businesses.
The California lawmaker is also asking for consideration of businesses facing challenges securing funding amid the coronavirus outbreak.
While Republican lawmakers reportedly pushed for Pelosi to agree to the terms of the proposed bill on Wednesday, she has reiterated why she would not “ossify inequality in access to capital.”
“I have said very clearly: What they are proposing will not get unanimous consent in the House. There is no reason why they cannot come to the table and see the value of what we are offering,” Pelosi said during a phone discussion with The Washington Post on Thursday. “You cannot expect us to ossify inequality in access to capital as we try to fight the coronavirus.”
Pelosi’s push back comes less than one day after McConnell’s string of tweets detailing his hopes for the swift, unanimous vote on the $250 billion for small business funding.
On Wednesday night, McConnell took to Twitter, detailing his intent for the proposed $250 billion expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program.
The Kentucky lawmaker said he would “ask unanimous consent to pass standalone emergency funding for the hugely popular Paycheck Protection Program that is saving small-business jobs as we speak,” but, to no avail.
Senate Democrats blocked the measure by Republicans on Thursday for more aid for small businesses, IJR previously reported.
Tomorrow morning, I’ll ask unanimous consent to pass standalone emergency funding for the hugely popular Paycheck Protection Program that is saving small-business jobs as we speak. As the rest of the CARES Act continues to come online, this key part is already low on funds.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) April 9, 2020
During Thursday’s press briefing, Pelosi doubled down on her stance, saying, “What the secretary requested and the bill that the Senate majority leader brought to the Floor would never pass the House with unanimous consent. There is a basis for negotiation, but it would never pass the House with unanimous consent.”
Pelosi also insists there will be more time to discuss a more amicable bipartisan agreement in the coming days.