Get all the most recent news on coronavirus and more provided daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., safeguarded his celebration on Friday as MSNBC anchor Willie Geist pressed him on Democrats’ hesitation to approve relief for small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
” Senator Schumer, as you simply set out, that PPP [paycheck protection] program has lacked its $350 billion worth of funds,” Geist stated on “Morning Joe.”
” There’s that $250 billion legislation proposed to get that cash to small businesses right now. It wants to a lot of little business owners who are waiting on the checks, who actually have had loans authorized however [are] now speaking with their banks there’s no cash left in the fund […] Like you all, the Democrats, are standing in the way of that because you want to negotiate another piece for healthcare facilities and state and local governments.”
JOB CREATORS NETWORK BLASTS PELOSI AND SCHUMER’S SMALL COMPANY STONEWALLING: ‘IT’S ABSURD’
” No, that’s not true,” Schumer reacted. Geist followed up by asking why the celebration wouldn’t think about a separate expense for funding state and local governments.
More from Media
” To start with, to provide the cash to the PPP program without fixing it would make no sense,” Schumer stated. ” You ‘d still have more than half business excluded and getting no money. Don’t just ask Democrats. Eight Republican senators said that in a letter to [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell. The Chamber of Commerce, barely a Democratic company, likewise concurred.”
Schumer likewise emphasized the need to help health centers and avoid layoffs in state and city governments.
” And when they lay off numerous countless individuals, which they will previously May 4th when we come back, that’s simply as bad as the small business person not being able to employ people … these instant things are needed,” he said.
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY: CORONAVIRUS-DAMAGED ORGANISATIONS OFFERING OVER HALF OF US JOBS DESERVE TAX BREAK
He added that he was making “development” in conversations with Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
Geist challenged Schumer by pointing to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., who called on the Senate to pass additional financing “ASAP.”
” The PPP program is going to run out of financing soon– the Senate must authorize include’ l financing by consentaneous permission ASAP,” she tweeted on Thursday. “Small companies require our help to survive during this emergency.”
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Schumer reacted by declaring that Sinema had actually contacted both celebrations to do their part– obviously referring to another tweet from Thursday.
” Arizona businesses are counting on us to help them throughout this emergency. I’m calling on leadership in both parties to get thru [sic] this stalemate ASAP– we can’t wait longer,” she had tweeted.