Scant agreement over next relief package in Congress as economy reels from coronavirus crisis

As the Senate returns to session Monday after the public health crisis has effectively closed the Capitol for five weeks, Republicans remain wary about passing another sweeping measure after Congress has already approved nearly $3 trillion in legislation just this spring alone. GOP senators are also pushing back against the White House's call for spending on infrastructure and President Donald Trump's demand for a payroll tax cut, a sign of the sharp divisions even with more than 30 million Americans filing jobless claims since mid-March.

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, a member of the Senate GOP leadership, told CNN Monday there isn't "any appetite" for another major Covid-19 relief bill like the one envisioned by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a far-reaching proposal expected to be introduced in the House in days and that could mirror the new $2-trillion-plus stimulus law, the largest rescue package in American history.

Congressional Democratic leaders have made clear that they view additional funding for cash-strapped state and local governments as a non-negotiable with Pelosi saying last month: "There will not be a bill without state and local."

They have also talked about the next package in sweeping terms, signaling that they want to enact a far-reaching measure. In a joint statement earlier this month, Pelosi and Schumer said that the next aid measure would need to "provide transformational relief" to the American public.

But Barrasso said he doesn't believe state and local governments need additional money beyond the $150 billion provided in the stimulus law, even as Pelosi has suggested that there could be an additional $1 trillion for states and cities in the next round of Washington's intervention into the economy.

"For right now, in terms of another big bill Schumer's talking about, Nancy's talking about, we don't have any appetite for that," Barrasso, who was wearing a blue mask as he walked through the Capitol, said in the interview. "We want to make sure that the money that's being spent, is being spent well, we spent up to about $2.7 trillion and the states are asking for a lot more."

Barrasso said that he is open to giving states and cities more flexibility in how to spend the $150 billion for coronavirus-related expenses, including for first responders, but he doesn't believe they need any additional money.

"The question is do they need any more flexibility on how they spend that? I actually believe they do," Barrasso said. "But I don't believe that they need to have money on top of that."

The pushback from a top member of Senate Republican leadership underscores the challenge that lays ahead for Congress as the pandemic continues to take a significant toll on the US economy and workforce and on public health and safety.

Democrats and Republicans have both drawn red lines around what they want to see enacted next, signaling a fight ahead over what action will be taken.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has indicated that he may be open to considering more money to help state and local governments, but only if it is conditioned on passing liability reforms to protect employers from a rash of lawsuits he believes will be aimed at them after the pandemic clears and businesses reopen. Democratic leaders have scoffed at that demand.

With the Senate in session this week, Republicans will hold lunches from Tuesday to Thursday to discuss their next steps -- but there may be points of contention between some GOP lawmakers and the administration.

Trump said Sunday there will be no further stimulus bill signings that don't include a deal to cut payroll taxes, saying in a Fox News town hall that he told Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, "We are not doing anything unless we get a payroll tax cut."

Asked about Trump's call for a payroll tax cut, Barrasso said the focus first should be on the tens of millions of people who are losing their jobs.

"I want to make sure we get the most bang for the buck. Thirty million people are out of work. I want to make sure that we're focused on those people. There are advantages of a payroll tax cut for employers and employees. My focus is on the people that are today out of work. The best thing we can do for them, let's get the economy going again and get people back to work."

Barrasso said there might need to be more money for the small business loan program, even as Congress just authorized an additional $310 billion that is expected to run out of money within days.

"That's my number one concern -- making sure there's enough funding for the Paycheck Protection Program," Barrasso said. "And it may need to be refunded, and that's the question is, how do you increase the funding? Is that another bill?"

House Democrats are demanding more money for mail-in voting, with Pelosi telling her colleagues that there needs to be a minimum of $2 billion in the next package for voting assistance, setting up yet another fight with Republicans over what comes next. She said it's a public health issue given concerns that people could get ill from the coronavirus simply by going to the polls and exercising their right to vote.

But echoing calls from other Republicans, Barrasso said such a debate should happen separately from the next relief package.

"That should be done separate from the specifics of the coronavirus rescue and relief bills," he said.