After five days of negotiations, an economic stimulus bill that responds to the current coronavirus crisis will be ready for a vote early this afternoon. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made announcement overnight. This is a $2 trillion bill for many sectors of the U.S. economy. Politico reports the Senate bill includes North Dakota Senator John Hoeven’s proposal to increase Commodity Credit Corporation funding to $50 billion. However, to secure that language Senate Republicans had to agree to a Democratic demand for a dramatic increase in food stamp benefits. While passage is now likely in the Senate, the House is not in session. It could pass by unanimous consent in the House, but the political divide in Congress may make that unlikely.
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