- Nancy Pelosi strongly defended her decision to reject the Trump administration's $US1.8 trillion stimulus offer on Friday.
- "It was not a mistake," Pelosi said at her press conference.
- Some House Democrats called on her to strike a deal before the election, but Pelosi argued the administration was only putting forward "half a loaf".
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended her support of a stimulus package half the size of what the Trump administration offered in October at her weekly press conference on Friday. The California Democrat also cited the "gamechanger" of Joe Biden's election as the 46th president as well as the positive vaccine developments in her backing of the $US908 billion relief bill proposed earlier this week.
She argued that her previous insistence for a broad spending package of at least $US2.2 trillion is producing results.
"It was not a mistake. It was a decision that has taken us to a place where we can do the right things without other, shall we say, considerations, in the legislation that we don't want," she said, adding, "I'm very proud of where we are."
Asked about her support of the latest compromise package, Pelosi responded: "A vaccine, an answer to our prayers with 95% effectiveness with Pfizer and Moderna and there may be others coming forward. That is a total game-changer. A new president, and a vaccine."
Pelosi's remarks illustrate the sharp change in her position from earlier in the fall. For months, she negotiated a rescue package with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, with the White House ultimately offering a $US1.8 trillion stimulus plan in early October. But she rejected it, citing an array of policy disagreements which neither side ever resolved.
Some House Democrats called on her to strike a deal before the election, but Pelosi argued the administration was only putting forward "half a loaf." President Donald Trump strongly supported a large plan leading up to the November 3 election.
Senate Republicans led by Mitch McConnell, however, would have been unlikely to support a package with a high price tag.
The latest compromise relief plan contains funding for $US300 weekly federal unemployment benefits, small business aid, as well as more funds for public health systems and vaccines. It represents a significant reduction of the multitrillion dollar package that Democrats had pushed for the past six months.
Congressional Democrats embraced the framework on Wednesday, saying it should be the starting point in negotiations with Republicans after months of gridlock. Though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell favours a slimmer rescue plan, some GOP senators are have lined up behind the compromise proposal.
The plan lacks legislative text, which is expected early next week. Meanwhile, president-elect Joe Biden supports it, though he maintains that he will seek more federal aid after being sworn in on January 20.
"Any package passed in the lame duck session is not enough," he said in a statement released on Friday. "It's just the start. Congress will need to act again in January."