After a week of closed-door negotiations between Democratic leaders and the Trump Administration, officials have yet to show a clear path to break the deadlock over a new coronavirus relief package. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told lawmakers that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) are holding firm, even after the $600-a-week federal enhancement to state unemployment benefits expired last week. As a result, President Trump is considering issuing three executive orders. The three actions under consideration would delay the collection of federal payroll taxes, reinstitute an expired eviction moratorium, and extend enhanced federal unemployment benefits using unspent money already appropriated by Congress. Meanwhile, several GOP senators said on Tuesday that they are holding behind-the-scenes talks with rank-and-file Democrats on the coronavirus relief package. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) told reporters that he was “working behind the scenes, including now with some Democrats, on trying to get something done on UI [unemployment insurance], whether it's a return to work bonus or something else.”
