McConnell: Let's 'set aside' liability protections, state and local funding and pass a relief bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested Tuesday that lawmakers "set aside" liability protections as well as federal funding for states and localities in a coronavirus relief bill so lawmakers can reach an agreement on such a measure before the year's end.

McConnell described liability protections and federal assistance for state and local governments as the "most contentious" issues around coronavirus stimulus. 

"Any kind of liability relief they [Democrats] instinctively, like a pavlovian response, object to," McConnell said at a news conference. "Why don't we set aside the two obviously most contentious issues? We know we're going to be confronted with another request after the first of the year. We'll live to fight those another day and pass the things we agree on."

Senate Majority Whip John Thune told reporters that a lot of senators have "big reservations about borrowing more to basically bail out a few states that are, maybe because of their own actions, in a bad fiscal situation."

Thune said the Senate Republican position on coronavirus stimulus has been consistent.

"We need a targeted fiscally responsible approach to coronavirus relief," he said. 

Thune also said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now supporting a smaller package than the revised House-passed $2.2 HEROES Act because Joe Biden will likely want Congress to pass more stimulus next year.

"Where has this view been for the last seven months?" he asked.

A bipartisan working group is crafting a $908 billion COVID-19 relief package. McConnell has outlined a framework for another coronavirus relief bill as well. Congressional leaders and the White House have yet to reach a formal agreement.