President Trump issued an executive order this past weekend to divert disaster money to re-start enhanced unemployment insurance (UI) benefits that expired last month and suspend collection of payroll taxes for some workers. Democrats and some Republicans cried foul, arguing that Trump lacks the constitutional authority to govern by fiat. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he thinks Democrats want to compromise but criticized their demand for $1 trillion in aid for state and local governments.
Negotiators remained deadlocked after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House rejected her $2.4 trillion offer – a trillion less than her previous proposal – on Friday. Democrats said they would reduce their original ask if Republicans would raise theirs by the same amount. GOP negotiators rejected the deal.
