Negotiators race for a stimulus deal, but ‘significant outstanding issues’ remain

CNN — Negotiations to secure a bipartisan deal on a far-reaching economic stimulus package moved ahead in the Senate on Friday amid dire fallout from the spread of the novel coronavirus, but key lawmakers signaled that major issues remained unresolved and talks would extend into Saturday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday evening that negotiators “are making progress” but “there are still some significant outstanding issues,” adding, “There’s so much to do I think tonight is hard.” The New York Democrat said, “I think it’s a big, complicated, huge bill and tonight – I would hope we could come to agreements tomorrow, but of course we also have to include Speaker Pelosi in everything.” A source involved in the talks told CNN that Senate negotiators were now not expected to announce a stimulus deal Friday night but that the talks have moved in a positive direction and would continue into Saturday. The source said Senate staff would begin drafting bill text Saturday and “we’re going to keep at the discussions while participating in reviewing and refining bill text.” A GOP leadership aide confirmed the progress and that there would be no deal Friday night, adding that the bipartisan groups would “continue to work through the night.” But Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said late Friday that the talks had ended for the night and would resume Saturday morning with three to four issues still outstanding. Grassley said they were matters for his own task force on the bill, which is handling “tax and relief issues.” The other task groups are near consensus, according to White House Legislative Affairs Director Eric Ueland, who also said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has set a deadline of Saturday afternoon for the groups to complete their work. She indicated, however, that House Democrats are talking with senators, saying that House committees are “engaged in conversations with the Senate about provisions that could be added to improve the Senate bill.” A group of bipartisan senators and administration officials had been racing onFriday in an attempt to meet a midnight deadline to agree on a stimulus package that is likely to grow significantly larger than the original $1 trillion Republican proposal laid out to help the country battle the coronavirus and assist struggling workers and businesses in getting back on their feet.