McConnell takes reins of third coronavirus bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi mum on when House will send impeachment article to Senate Democratic senator: COVID-19 relief is priority over impeachment trial The Hill's Morning Report - Biden asks Congress to expand largest relief response in U.S. history MORE (R-Ky.) is coming back to the negotiating table as lawmakers try to craft a mammoth stimulus package. 

The GOP leader and his caucus were sidelined during the negotiations between Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven MnuchinTreasury imposes additional sanctions on Cuba over allegations of 'serious human rights abuse' Treasury Department sanctions inner circle of Russian agent Derkach for election interference Sanders defends push to impeach Trump: Insurrection won't be tolerated MORE and House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiDemocrats point fingers on whether Capitol rioters had inside help Pelosi suggests criminal charges for any lawmaker who helped with Capitol riot Pelosi mum on when House will send impeachment article to Senate MORE (D-Calif.), which resulted in several Senate Republicans vocally opposing the $104 billion package. 

Now, the GOP leader is keeping a tight grip on the formation of a third coronavirus package that could top $1 trillion amid growing concerns that the spread of the virus could bludgeon the economy. 

“We need to be in the game when some of these decisions are being made and try to influence and shape the policies,” said Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneFor platform regulation Congress should use a European cheat sheet Streamlining the process of prior authorization for medical and surgical procedures McConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last time MORE (R-S.D.), McConnell’s No. 2. 

“We want to have obviously some of our members get their ideas into the mix,” he added. 

Sen. John CornynJohn CornynCruz, Cornyn to attend Biden inauguration McConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last time Rick Scott will 'likely' join challenge to election results MORE (R-Texas), an adviser to McConnell, characterized the strategy as aimed at building “consensus” and eliminating “misunderstanding.” 

“I just think that’s a logical approach to me. It wouldn’t make any sense for him to negotiate with Speaker Pelosi and then get something that he couldn’t get Republicans to agree to,” he said. 

The decision is a hard shift from how the second coronavirus bill came together, when McConnell said that he was deferring to Mnuchin to negotiate with Pelosi. The Treasury secretary and House Speaker have become a crucial pair of dealmakers in an increasingly divided Washington; they also clinched deals on the budget and funding the government. 

“I think that the secretary of the Treasury's going to have ball control for the administration, and I expect that will speak for us as well, and we're hoping that he and the Speaker can pull this together,” McConnell said before the two reached their deal.

The end result was a bill that was panned by several Senate Republicans who felt like they had been left out of the negotiations. 

“Right now, the plan around here is basically just to start shoveling money out of a helicopter, and the most important debate is whether Democrats or Republicans get to shovel the money first,” said Sen. Ben SasseBen SasseSasse: Capitol rioters 'came dangerously close to starting a bloody constitutional crisis' McConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last time McConnell: Trump impeachment trial to start after Biden sworn in MORE (R-Neb.), who was one of eight Republicans who voted “no.”

McConnell acknowledged that some Republicans were unhappy. Republicans briefly considered merging the second and third packages but were worried about slowing down the bill given the economic turmoil and spread of the virus. 

“My counsel to them is to gag and vote for it anyway even if they think it has some shortcomings and to address those shortcomings in the bill that we're in the process of crafting,” he said.

McConnell told reporters repeatedly during a press conference this week that the process for the third coronavirus package will start with Senate Republicans, who would then negotiate with the administration. Once they have an agreement, they will then start negotiating with Democrats, whose support will be needed to pass something through the House and Senate. 

“First, Senate Republicans and the administration are going to try to reach an agreement on what we think is best for what could best be described as phase three. Then, the Senate being the Senate, we will sit down with our Democratic counterparts and see what we can agree to,” he said. 

Pressed on why he wouldn’t reach out to Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerBiden and the new Congress must protect Americans from utility shutoffs 'Almost Heaven, West Virginia' — Joe Manchin and a 50-50 Senate Democrats looking to speed through Senate impeachment trial MORE (D-N.Y.), he added, “I think the best way to proceed is the way I outlined. Then, we'll have a clear indication of where most of the Republicans are, and we'll sit down and talk to our colleagues on the other side of the aisle and reach an agreement.” 

There is some communication with Democrats — just not from McConnell. Mnuchin has been in touch with both Pelosi and Schumer about the third phase of the legislative response to the coronavirus. 

“Schumer spoke with Secretary Mnuchin yesterday afternoon via phone about the third phase of the coronavirus bill and Schmer’s people-focused proposal,” a spokesman for Schumer said. 

Schumer is offering his own $750 billion proposal that includes $400 billion toward programs related to pandemic response, $300 billion toward a “social safety net,” and other policy changes such as a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. 

He knocked McConnell for taking a GOP-only approach, arguing that it would only delay a final bipartisan deal. 

“The plan leader McConnell laid out will slow things down in a significant and dramatic way, and it doesn't start out in a bipartisan way, and above all, this should be bipartisan,” Schumer said. 

But McConnell has created four task forces to draft and negotiate the third coronavirus package: health, tax, small business and industry bailout. 

He offered an outline of the efforts underway: Sens. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioConfirmation hearing for Biden's DNI pick postponed McConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last time The Hill's Morning Report - Trump impeached again; now what? MORE (R-Fla.) and Susan CollinsSusan Margaret Collins'Almost Heaven, West Virginia' — Joe Manchin and a 50-50 Senate McConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last time McConnell says he's undecided on whether to vote to convict Trump MORE (R-Maine) are working on assistance for small businesses; Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyChuck GrassleyMcConnell about to school Trump on political power for the last time Overnight Health Care: Biden unveils COVID-19 relief plan | Post-holiday surge hits new deadly records | Senate report faults 'broken' system for insulin price hikes Report faults 'broken' system for insulin price spikes MORE (R-Iowa) is spearheading the tax angle; Sen. Lamar AlexanderLamar AlexanderCongress addressed surprise medical bills, but the issue is not resolved Trump renominates Judy Shelton in last-ditch bid to reshape Fed Senate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenes MORE (R-Tenn.) is exploring how to bolster the public health response, including the development of vaccines; and Sen. Roger WickerRoger Frederick WickerWall Street Journal: GOP Electoral College 'stunt' will hurt US, Republican Party Bipartisan group of senators: The election is over Southwest Airlines says it won't furlough workers after Trump signed relief bill MORE (R-Miss.) is looking at impacted industries.  

Senators involved in the groups, including key committee chairmen, presented their progress during a closed-door lunch on Wednesday and are expected to turn over their work product by Thursday. Among the ideas being batted around by Senate Republicans are cash assistance for Americans, expanded unemployment and help for impacted industries such as airlines.

Sen. Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntUS Chamber of Commerce to stop supporting some lawmakers following the Capitol riots Senate to be briefed on inauguration security after Capitol attack This week: Democrats barrel toward Trump impeachment after Capitol attack MORE (R-Mo.), another member of GOP leadership, added that the strategy was reflective of Republicans wanting a larger role after deferring the second coronavirus package to Mnuchin. 

“He wants to know what our bargaining position,” he said of McConnell. “There's [also] an interest on the part of our members to be more involved in this discussion than we were in the last couple.” 

And the GOP leader wants to move a third coronavirus bill, in his words, at “warp speed.” 

GOP senators are hoping to vote as soon as this weekend but at least by next week, underscoring the pressure they are under to move quickly to reassure both constituents and the market. 

Minutes after the Senate passed the second coronavirus package, McConnell made it clear he wanted senators to stay around even though the scheduling for next votes is in flux. 

“We’ll continue to work on the next bill to respond to the crisis, and I want to repeat again: The Senate’s going to stay in session until we finish phase three,” he said. 

“Republicans hope, shortly, to have a consolidated position, along with the administration, and we intend to sit down with our Democratic colleagues ... and I would recommend senators stay around, close,” he said. “Just how long it will take to get through these steps is unclear, but as everyone knows, we are moving rapidly because the situation demands it.”