LIVE: Leaders Close In on Covid Relief Stimulus Below $900 Billion

(Dec. 16) Top leaders from both parties in Congress are near a deal for Covid relief of less than $900 billion, including direct stimulus payments but leaving out state and local aid, according to a person familiar with negotiations.

Democrats originally asked for nearly $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments to make up for revenue losses during the pandemic lockdowns. More recently, they had pushed for $160 billion in aid, but McConnell tied that provision to a liability shield for companies, which Democrats rejected.

A deal today could allow votes as soon as tonight on a bill combining the aid package with the $1.4 trillion bill to fund the government past Friday.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had said he would hold up the spending package unless the attached virus-relief deal has direct payments to individuals. The final deal could include this stimulus provision, but less than the $1,200 per person that Sanders requested.

---

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm

Bloomberg Quicktake brings you live global news and original shows spanning business, technology, politics and culture. Make sense of the stories changing your business and your world.

To watch complete coverage on Bloomberg Quicktake 24/7, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/qt/live, or watch on Apple TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Fire TV and Android TV on the Bloomberg app.

Connect with us on…
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Bloomberg
Breaking News on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BloombergQuickTakeNews
Twitter: https://twitter.com/quicktake
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quicktake
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quicktake

Видео LIVE: Leaders Close In on Covid Relief Stimulus Below $900 Billion канала Bloomberg Quicktake: Now