Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal | TheHill

Right now, we’re not even in the position of even talking to rank-and-file Democrats because they’ve been told not to negotiate,” said Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden couldn't be more different on climate change Congress should support independent oversight of federal prisons Senate panel seeks documents in probe of DHS whistleblower complaint MORE (R-Fla.), the chairman of the Senate Small Business Committee, which has jurisdiction over the popular Paycheck Protection Program.Senate Majority Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneGOP ramps up attacks on Democrats over talk of nixing filibuster On The Money: Pelosi says House will stay in session until stimulus deal is reached | GOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick | WTO rules Trump tariffs on Chinese goods illegal GOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick MORE (R-S.D.) said the Senate Democratic leadership has “crushed” any attempts to negotiate separately with rank-and-file Democrats on scaled-down relief measures.“I hope we could sit down together. One centrist Democratic senator interested in passing coronavirus relief legislation in the next several weeks said in contrast to Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi seeks to put pressure on GOP in COVID-19 relief battle On The Money: Pelosi says House will stay in session until stimulus deal is reached | GOP short of votes on Trump's controversial Fed pick | WTO rules Trump tariffs on Chinese goods illegal Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-Calif.), Schumer hasn’t given colleagues a green light to put together their own proposal. We’re willing to meet the president in the middle,” he said, referring to the $1.1 trillion GOP proposal the White House endorsed in July and the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act that House Democrats passed in May. Senate Democrats say McConnell and White House chief of staff Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsCNBC's Cramer calls Pelosi 'crazy Nancy' in live interview Pelosi digs in as pressure builds for COVID-19 deal Pelosi defends not speaking to Trump for almost a year MORE are the biggest obstacles to reaching a coronavirus deal.