Democrats stall Trump's $250B business virus aid package

Senate Democrats on Thursday stalled President Donald Trump's request for USD 250 billion to supplement a "paycheck protection" programme for businesses crippled by the coronavirus outbreak, demanding protections for minority-owned businesses and money for health care providers and state and local governments.

They sidetracked a request by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, to give the unanimous consent necessary to fast-track Trump's request.

"We need more funding and we need it fast," McConnell said as he opened the Senate, assuring them there would be future bills to deal with other issues.

Democrats' demands sparked a spirited response from McConnell, who implored them not to block "emergency aid you do not even oppose just because you want something more".

"Nobody thinks this will be the Senate's last word on COVID-19. We don't have to do everything right now," McConnell said. "Let's continue to work together, with speed and bipartisanship. We will get through this crisis together."
"One of the concerns that we have about the original $350 (billion) is that a lot of ... people who are under-banked are unserved on that basis," Pelosi told NPR on Wednesday. "So, they don't have banking relationships sophisticated in a way that others do."