White House 'not optimistic' on near-term aid deal

Top Democrats in Congress were nowhere near a deal with the White House Sunday on the next coronavirus aid package, despite the expiration of a critical financial lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans.

"I'm not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term...."

Speaking on CBS’s "Face the Nation", White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows held out little hope a deal would be reached soon.

Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer over the weekend.

The biggest sticking point: the $600 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits, which expired July 31st.

Pelosi stood firm Sunday, telling ABC News that figure should remain at $600.

The Trump administration and some Senate Republicans however have been pushing for a reduction in those benefits, saying they should be tied to wages.

Mnuchin on Sunday said that President Trump supports enhanced benefits. He blamed Democrats for not wanting to make a separate deal on unemployment while negotiations continue on a broader aid package.

A moratorium on evictions for those in federally-backed housing also expired last month.

"What I say to the people out there is, tell the Democrats let’s do a short-term deal. The two issues on evictions and enhanced unemployment, we're prepared to do a deal for a couple of weeks while we negotiate."

The Democratic-led House of Representatives proposed their version of the relief bill in May, but the Republican-controlled Senate did not make a counter proposal until last week, and even Republicans themselves do not agree on what should be in the bill.

Mnuchin said top officials from both sides will meet again on Monday.