US coronavirus aid talks moving closer to deal: Pelosi aide

The White House and Democrats in the US Congress moved closer to agreement on a new coronavirus relief package on Tuesday as President Donald Trump said he was willing to accept a large aid bill despite opposition from his own Republican Party.<br/>With just two weeks to go until the US presidential election, Trump signaled a willingness to go along with more than $2.2t in new COVID-19 relief, as Democrats had been pushing for months. “I want to do it even bigger than the Democrats,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News, as talks between Pelosi, a Democrat, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continued with the goal of getting something to pass Congress before Election Day on Nov. 3. Pelosi, speaking to reporters after a mid-afternoon call with Mnuchin, was asked about prospects for a legislative package by the end of this week. “I hope so. That’s the plan,” she said. In a letter to her fellow Democrats on Tuesday evening, however, Pelosi made no mention of wrapping the battle up by week’s end. “I remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement before the election,” she wrote. Pelosi Deputy Chief of Staff Drew Hammill said that a 45-minute call between the speaker and Mnuchin was productive “as they move closer to an agreement.” Hammill said on Twitter that negotiations would continue Wednesday. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Republican-led Senate would consider a Pelosi-Mnuchin deal if it wins House approval, but provided no time frame. The White House has proposed $1.8t in coronavirus relief, while Pelosi is pushing for $2.2t. The head of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Sara Nelson, sent a letter to members of Congress on Tuesday urging action before the election. “Now is the time. There is no retroactivity that Congress can apply to the human toll caused by delayed relief,” she said. More than 32,000 airline workers have been furloughed while awaiting another round of aid.<br/>