Capitol Hill observers say Congress and the White House are gearing up for battle over the fifth round of coronavirus aid.
Key members of the Trump administration and Senate Majority LeaderMitch McConnell(R-Ky.) will start briefing Republicans on the forthcoming GOP proposal on Tuesday, as Congress faces intense pressure to act: States across the country are seeing cases spike, unemployment rates are in the double digits and some hospitals are running low on bed space and protective equipment.
With both sides jockeying for leverage ahead of the start of formal negotiations on the bill, the stakes are high. The bill is expected to be one of the last that clears Congress before the November election.
Frustrations played out on the Senate floor, as both Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority LeaderCharles Schumer(D-N.Y.) put the onus on the other for coming to the negotiating table.
Both sides will have a matter of only weeks to put together a fifth relief package before Congress is expected to leave town again.
More: WOODTV.COM