Progress slow on virus relief bill as negotiations continue

“The speaker of the House and the Democratic Leader are continuing to say ‘our way or the highway’ with a massive wish list for left-wing lobbyists that was slapped together a few weeks ago called a coronavirus bill,” McConnell said.Speaking to reporters after the two-hour session, Democratic negotiators pressed the case for additional food aid, funding for the Postal Service and the $600-per-week jobless benefit that lapsed last week. “In all cases Democrat-run cities, and we don’t think that’s fair.”McConnell is insistent on a liability shield against lawsuits by workers, students, and others against institutions seeking to remain open during the pandemic, including businesses, universities and charities.On Monday, unions representing professional athletes — including NFL players and Major League Basesball players — weighed in against McConnell’s proposal, saying in a letter to lawmakers, “It makes little sense during these uncertain times to both ask employees to return to work and, at the same time, accept all the risk for doing so.”On unemployment, Pelosi said she’d consider reducing the $600 benefit for people in states with lower unemployment rates.