Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo says Dems, GOP far apart on new stimulus plan
BOISE (CBS2) — When it comes to negotiations in Congress about new unemployment benefits, Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho tells me it's as if Republicans and Democrats see the one crisis through two different lenses.
"We are going to try and work this out but right now the demands from the House and Senate Democrats are far above what the Republicans and the White House are prepared to do," Sen. Crapo told me from, D.C. in a phone interview Thursday.
Crapo says there's general agreement about continuing the PPP -- the paycheck protection program -- to help small businesses.
But the senator says Republicans and Democrats are far apart on how much the federal weekly unemployment benefit should be.
Democrats want to keep it at the previous $600 a week.
Republicans want to trim it back and eyed a temporary compromise.
Both sides pushed for a compromise by the end of the week, Crapo said but progress bogged down as congressional leaders and the White House try to work out a plan both sides say is needed to keep renters from being evicted and to help unemployed workers make ends meet.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told CNN Wednesday that the Senate will “certainly” be in session next week.
"Some senators may go home for the weekend," Crapo said. "But I'm staying."
“If there’s not a deal by Friday, there won’t be a deal.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC.
