Government Spending

After numerous fits and starts and months of inaction, optimism is finally building in Washington for a COVID-19 aid bill.

Democratic leaders pointed to the lackluster November jobs report on Friday as the latest evidence that another substantial coronavirus relief package is needed for American families and workers still hurting from the pandemic. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that new coronavirus relief measures could be attached to the omnibus spending bill that Congress needs to pass by next week in order to avoid a government shutdown. 

About 300 companies that received as much as half a billion dollars in pandemic-related government loans have filed for bankruptcy.

The clock is running out for Congress to strike a coronavirus relief deal and fund the government before year-end as lawmakers try to work through a laundry list of unfinished business in the lame-duck session.

"The bottom line is very simple, we need a large, strong COVID bill to deal with our problems," Schumer said Sunday. "We have heard for months, every time we get close to a deal, Senator McConnell says no, he has become the Doctor No of COVID, just like he has been the Doctor No of all the bills in the Senate over the last several years."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called on Democrats to support a targeted coronavirus package, as he noted an uptick in virus cases throughout the U.S.

Almost half, or 48%, of the nursing homes reported they hadn’t used their rapid-testing equipment in the most recent week included in the data.

Sen. McConnell is expected to take prominent role in aid talks, while Pelosi sees no reason to lower demands.

A Small Business Administration program intended to keep entrepreneurs afloat during the coronavirus pandemic may have sent billions of dollars to scammers and ineligible applicants, according to a new watchdog report.

A report from the Office of the Inspector General detailed tens of billions of dollars’ worth of potentially fraudulent loans.

House speaker, treasury secretary have called for input from committee chairs to help resolve differences.

President Trump said Thursday he would raise his offer for a coronavirus relief package above the White House's current $1.8 trillion proposal amid a months-long impasse with Democratic leaders over more funding.

Relief talks are scheduled to take up again on Thursday.

The major reason for the perceived lack of confidence in President Trump, according to the survey, seems to be his recent actions and statements related to the payroll tax.

The speaker won't talk to the president because he doesn't "share our values," so we can't have $1.8 trillion worth of help for distressed people. 

The U.S. Treasury Secretary hinted Democratic resistance may be politically motivated.

Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari is urging Congress to be "aggressive" with economic assistance in order to boost the United States' recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday dismissed the latest White House offer in COVID-19 aid talks as “one step forward, two steps back,” but said she is still hopeful that progress can be made toward a deal.

The massive figures were expected but still stunning, more than double the previous deficit record of $1.4 trillion that was registered during former President Barack Obama’s first year in office during the Great Recession in 2009.