Coronavirus stimulus talks roll into Monday as negotiators fail to clinch deal

Negotiations over a mammoth stimulus package to address the coronavirus crisis spilled over into Monday as top members of leadership and administration officials tried to revive hopes of a bipartisan deal.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin left the Capitol around midnight, still unable to clinch a bipartisan agreement despite three days of around-the-block negotiations.

White House director of legislative affairs Eric Ueland, asked where the divides are, said there were still a “handful of issues” that remained as sticking points to an agreement.

“Well, we're hopeful for a quick resolution because as you know the president wants to deliver relief to the American economy and support to the American people,” Ueland added, asked if the issues could be resolved on Monday.

The negotiations, which appeared close to a bipartisan deal on Saturday, quickly unraveled on Sunday as Democrats accused Republicans of walking away from the negotiations and drafting the massive bill without a bipartisan agreement.

Hopes of a quick deal soured further after a meeting between Mnuchin, Schumer, McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) failed to break the stalemate. Hours later, Democrats blocked the coronavirus stimulus package on a procedural hurdle, sparking visible outrage from McConnell.

“All of a sudden the Democratic leader and the speaker of the House shows up, and we’re back to square one. We’re fiddling here, fiddling with the emotions of the American people, fiddling with the markets, fiddling with our health care,” McConnell said after the failed vote.