money Second stimulus relief package stalled
Yahoo Finance's Jessica Smith explains the latest in stimulus discussion as negotiations stall.
Video Transcript
JULIE HYMAN: Let's get to that gap in stimulus talks and a threat that President Trump is now making regarding the post office. Our Jessica Smith is in Washington with the details on the latest for us, although there still doesn't seem to be any movement here, Jess, does there?
JESSICA SMITH: Yeah, Julie, it does not seem like a deal is anywhere in sight at this point. We just heard from House speaker Nancy Pelosi in the last hour and she said that she spoke to treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin yesterday. She says that she turned down a meeting with him because he would not budge from his position. The Democrats want the administration to meet them at around two trillion dollars for this next relief package. But she says the administration would not consider that.
There are lots of differences between the two sides at this point. President Trump said in an interview today that one of the sticking points is funding for the US Postal Service. He says he opposes funding for USPS because it would be used to facilitate mail-in voting in November. That is something that he has consistently railed against with unproven claims of voter fraud.
He said in this interview, if they don't get the funding, that means you can't have universal mail-in voting. Speaker Pelosi responded to the president's comments this morning. Let's watch.
NANCY PELOSI: They've not really ever liked the postal service, because they always want to find a way to make money off of something, and they want to privatize. But now, at a time of the pandemic, you would think they'd have a little sensitivity. But so obsessed are they to undermine absentee voting, that this is their connection there. So the president says he's not putting up any money for absentee voting, and he's not putting up any money for the postal service, undermining the health of our democracy.
JESSICA SMITH: [INAUDIBLE] say that the president is afraid of the American people. She says that he is putting up obstacles to keep people from participating in the elections. So clearly, nowhere close to a deal at this point-- that is just one of many differences. Republicans are saying that Democrats are refusing to negotiate, that they haven't put anything forward. But Speaker Pelosi was quick to point out that three months ago, the House passed a relief bill, Julie.
JULIE HYMAN: Still waiting, we are-- thank you, Jess. Appreciate it.
