Mnuchin to meet again with Pelosi to reach deal on next coronavirus spending package

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, President Trump’s top Capitol Hill negotiator on spending bills, returns to Congress on Tuesday to resume negotiations on the next coronavirus stimulus package.

Mnuchin will be joined by White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadow. They met Monday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, as the Senate released its roughly $1 trillion coronavirus package. Mnuchin and Meadow, previously a GOP House member, will reportedly meet again Tuesday with Pelosi. 

The GOP-controlled Senate released its measure about two months after the Democrat-controlled House passed its roughly $3 trillion package. 

Negotiation between both chambers and parties, and between the White House and Capitol Hill, have become increasingly urgent as unemployment and other benefits from previous stimulus packages are set to expire Friday.

Among the sticking points will be enhanced unemployment benefits, with the Democrats' plan calling for a continuation of the $600-a-week payments, while the GOP plan calls for about $200 weekly. 

Other issues including Democrats’ insistence about another package including coronavirus liability protection for companies and other entities and whether the final package includes money for state and local governments, as Democrats also have requested.