Author: Erik Wasson and Billy House

The U.S. is on track for an Oct. 1 government shutdown despite incremental progress late Sept. 26 in the House and Senate on rival spending bills.

Moderate Republicans are working with Democrats on a rarely used procedure to shorten a near-certain U.S. government shutdown and protect themselves from the anticipated backlash.

U.S. senators departed the Capitol for a pre-election break Oct. 26, making the logistics for passing a fiscal stimulus package by Nov. 3 practically impossible, leaving the economy more vulnerable to damage from a resurgent coronavirus pandemic.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are “just about there” on a deal for a coronavirus relief package even as there are outstanding differences still being negotiated.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said the goal in talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a deal on a coronavirus relief package within the next 48 hours.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled openness to a standalone airline relief bill in a telephone conversation with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the morning of Oct. 7 after President Donald Trump pulled his negotiators from broader stimulus talks.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he sees one more chance at securing a deal with Democrats on another fiscal stimulus package, while stopping short of embracing a bigger proposal than President Donald Trump already has signaled.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sept. 29 discussed the latest Democratic stimulus proposal in talks that will determine whether another coronavirus relief package gets enacted before the election.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the House and Senate should be able to quickly agree on changes to the Small Business Administration’s popular Paycheck Protection Program to give loan recipients more flexibility in using funds.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the House and Senate should be able to quickly agree on changes to the Small Business Administration’s popular Paycheck Protection Program to give loan recipients more flexibility in using funds.