Senate Democrats blocked Wednesday a vote on Republican bills to add more funds to the Paycheck Protection Program as well as a $500 billion stimulus plan.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., sought a vote on the two plans despite continued negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a broader stimulus package.
"Democrats have said we shouldn't pass any more relief at all unless Speaker Pelosi gets her whole far-left wish list, including all kinds of non-COVID-related demands," McConnell tweeted early Wednesday afternoon. "Working families in Kentucky and around the country deserve better than this obstruction."
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tweeted: "We hear Democrats say we shouldn't do SCOTUS to focus on the virus but we vote & Democrats block us."
Democrats put politics above ppl by blocking virus relief bill again 2day this bill had $$$ for schools/testing/tracing/vaccine/small biz We hear Democrats say we shouldn't do SCOTUS to focus on the virus but we vote & Democrats block us It's clear Dems don't want a solution
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) October 21, 2020
On Tuesday, McConnell said that he was "aware that discussions continue between the president and the speaker about a larger package. Obviously, if that were to come over, we'd have to consider it and would consider it."
The GOP's PPP funding bill, introduced by Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, refunds and reopens the PPP.
The bill would "establish a whole second round for the hardest-hit small businesses that need help most. And thanks to the efforts of several colleagues, the legislation will also streamline the program and strengthen oversight," McConnell said Tuesday afternoon.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday afternoon that the Republican PPP bill "leaves out so much that the [Democrats'] Heroes bill has in it."