'Not going to happen': Pelosi rejects narrow aid bill to bail out struggling airlines

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won’t agree to a narrow bill to bail out the struggling airline industry, telling reporters it would have to be part of a much bigger package.

Pelosi, a California Democrat, contradicted reports that she held talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a measure that would provide $25 billion to the airlines, which have seen a steep decline in business due to the coronavirus and the subsequent stalling of the economy.

“It’s not going to happen,” Pelosi told reporters who asked about the talks. “Ain’t going to be no stand-alone bill unless there is a bigger bill, and it could be part of that or in addition to that.”

Democrats last week attempted to pass a bill to extend a payroll support program for airline workers, but the Republicans blocked it.