Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed doubts about whether Congress can get a deal on another pandemic relief package after lawmakers return to Washington after a month-long recess, despite the Trump administration push for a quick, targeted stimulus.

“I don't know if there will be another package in the next few weeks or not,” McConnell said at an event at a hospital in his home state of Kentucky. He said that talks between top administration officials and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi haven't been fruitful, and that any embrace of bipartisanship in the Capitol has “descended” as the fall elections near.

His comments come a day after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testified to Congress that parts of the U.S. economy urgently need additional fiscal stimulus to fully rebound from the COVID-19 crisis. Mnuchin told a House panel the most important thing is “that we deliver some relief quickly to the American workers impacted by this.”

Mnuchin later initiated a call with Pelosi, amid the stalemate in talks. In a statement Tuesday night, the speaker said she told the Treasury chief that Democrats have “serious questions” remaining in any negotiations. That includes, she said, the view of the administration that a smaller package can be pursued now and a larger one later.

“Sadly, this phone call made clear that Democrats and the White House continue to have serious differences understanding the gravity of the situation that America's working families are facing,” Pelosi said in her statement.

There have been no negotiations since the last round broke up almost a month ago. Democrats have offered to lower their demand for a $3.5 trillion package to about $2.2 trillion. Senate Republicans originally put forth a $1 trillion plan, but are now discussing with the administration a smaller $500 billion package they say will be more focused on areas of the economy most affected by the pandemic. Mnuchin singled out the travel industry and small businesses as needing more aid.

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, a member of McConnell's GOP leadership team, said at the Capitol Tuesday that the Senate may consider the legislation when it returns next week. But some Republican senators oppose any additional economic stimulus. And a move to actually consider the bill would need 60 votes in the Senate, with Democrats likely to block it.

COVID deaths in <br> California top 13K

LOS ANGELES — California coronavirus deaths topped 13,000 this week, another grim milestone despite a generally improving picture that is allowing more communities to ease pandemic restrictions.

As of Wednesday morning, the state had 13,171 deaths and 316,900 cases, according to the LA Times tracker. California has more confirmed cases than any other state but still has recorded far fewer deaths than New York, where more than 30,000 died.

Under new guidelines announced Friday, all of the state’s counties — no matter their COVID-19 status — are allowed to reopen shopping malls, retail stores and hair salons under certain conditions. Counties are taking varying approaches in adapting to the relaxed guidelines.

The state has placed LA County, along with 37 other counties, on Tier 1 of its reopening plan for having widespread risk of the virus. The county has recorded more than 242,000 cases and over 5,800 deaths. In recent weeks, those numbers have declined and stabilized, but August stands as the county’s deadliest month since the pandemic hit.

< right;">— Los Angeles Times

 

Florida’s COVID cases resume lower trend

MIAMI — A day after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said Quest Diagnostics suddenly unloaded nearly 80,000 test results with some dating back to April, the Florida Department of Health reported numbers that were more in line with late August trends and the fewest deaths since Aug. 7.

On Wednesday, the state confirmed 2,402 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 127 deaths.

The number of non-resident deaths held at 147.

Florida’s pandemic totals are 633,442 cases and 11,501 deaths.

< right;">— Miami Herald