USA: Talks on new support package broke down

Leading Democrats subsequently expressed disappointment with the White House line.

- We were prepared to lower a trillion if they raised a trillion. They said "absolutely not", said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, according to US political news site The Hill.

Her party colleague Chuck Schumer, a minority leader in the Senate, listed a number of needs that he says do not fit into Republicans' plans: costs for opening schools, corona testing, rent subsidies and election costs.

"The list is long, I could go on and on and on," Schumer said.

The measures in the first aid package ended on July 31, and the parties have been trying for two weeks to agree on a continuation that can be accepted by the two political camps: the president and the Republican-controlled Senate on the one hand, and the House of Representatives where the Democrats have a majority. .

The Democrats wanted to invest 3.4 trillion dollars, which is equivalent to 29 750 billion kronor or six times Sweden's GDP last year. Republicans want to invest 1 trillion.

Republicans also regret that there will be no settlement between the parties.

"This is not our first choice," said Finance Minister Steven Mnuchin.

Mnuchin said he would recommend President Trump to issue presidential decrees on continued crisis support, reports The Hill.

Trump himself has announced that he is prepared to issue decrees in four areas, writes USA Today.

This applies to unemployment benefits, student loans, continued moratorium on evictions and reduced employer contributions. Unemployment benefits in particular have been one of the major contentious issues, with leading Republicans seeking to cut federal aid from $ 600 to $ 200 a week and allow states to bear a greater share of the burden.

The Democrats, however, question the legality of using decrees in that way and have announced that they are prepared to take the matter to court, writes The Hill.