Working on more virus aid

Senate Republicans on Monday proposed a pandemic-relief bill totaling about $1 trillion after extensive wrangling between senators and the White House.

But sharp differences remain between the Republican proposal and a bill supported by House Democrats.

The plan includes direct payments to eligible recipients, additional loans to small businesses to keep workers on the payroll, and liability protection for businesses and doctors, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McDonnell, a Republican from Kentucky, said Monday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, planned to meet with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Monday evening to discuss the rival proposals.

In a statement, Pelosi said: "If Republicans care about working families, this won't take long. Time is running out. Congress cannot go home without an agreement."

Congress is scheduled to recess in August. Previously, Congress approved about $2.5 trillion to support the economy and combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In the US, there have been 4.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 148,000 deaths, Johns Hopkins University reported Monday.

In an encouraging economic sign, US orders for durable goods increased 7.3 percent in June from the previous month — the second month in a row the index has risen, the US Commerce Department reported Monday.

An additional $600 a week in unemployment benefits approved earlier this year expires Friday. Democrats back its extension, but Republicans propose reducing the amount to about 70 percent of a worker's pay before being laid off.

Republicans argue that the difference will be made up by a bonus for returning to work.

Democrats seek to extend the increased jobless benefit through January, believing it's necessary to help the unemployed meet routine living expenses.

But Republicans argue that high unemployment benefits will discourage some from returning to work.

The Republican proposal again includes sending a maximum $1,200 check to the same people who received the cash earlier this year.

Consumer spending represents about two-thirds of the US economy. The checks are intended to encourage people to spend.

The US Federal Reserve has slashed interest rates to encourage spending and investment. The result has been record-low mortgage rates and lower interest rates on credit card debt.

But spending on travel hasn't recovered. After an uptick in the spring, airlines are again cutting back as demand falls.

Declining travel has also ravaged the hotel and restaurant industries and resulted in mass layoffs, driving the unemployment rate up and, Democrats argue, necessitating higher unemployment benefits.

The Republican proposal didn't include cutting the federal payroll tax as Trump had wanted. The president said such a tax cut would get money into the hands of workers quickly.

The Republican plan contains no additional funding for state and local governments but would give them increased discretion in how federal money can be used.

Declining ridership has pummeled transit systems nationwide by eroding the flow of cash needed to keep the trains and buses running.

As part of their $3 trillion bill, House Democrats have proposed nearly $1 trillion in additional aid to state and local governments. The money is intended to fill the loss of tax revenue during the economic shutdown and increased expenses.

The University of Notre Dame in Indiana withdrew on Monday as host of the first 2020 presidential debate, scheduled for Sept 29, due to coronavirus concerns.

The event now will be co-hosted by Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.