GOP senators say coronavirus deal dead until after election

Republican senators on Thursday declared a fifth coronavirus relief bill all but dead, the latest signal that Congress is unlikely to pass any further pandemic assistance before the November election.

Senate Democrats on Thursday rejected a pared down GOP relief bill brought to the floor amid a weeks-long stalemate in discussions between congressional Democrats and the White House that shows no signs of breaking.

GOP senators after the vote expressed pessimism about the possibility of getting a deal in the coming months.

"Congress is not going to pass another COVID relief bill before the election," Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio Rubio Rick Scott running to chair Senate GOP campaign arm Rubio sends cryptic tweet about villains, 'crooked talk' Hillicon Valley: Officials on alert for potential cyber threats after a quiet Election Day | Officials warn delayed vote count could lead to flood of disinformation | Facebook takes down massive 'Stop the Steal' group MORE (R-Fla.) said in a video posted on Twitter.

Sen. Pat RobertsCharles (Pat) Patrick Roberts Business groups scramble to forge ties amid race for House Agriculture chair Republicans hold on to competitive Kansas House seat Marshall wins Kansas Senate race MORE (R-Kan.) said that the coronavirus talks were at a "dead end street."

Asked if it was unlikely Congress would pass another coronavirus relief bill before the election, Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig Shelby How a tied Senate could lead a divided America Uncertainty, Trump loom over packed year-end agenda Collins wins Maine race, narrowing Democratic chances for Senate majority MORE (R-Ala.) said, "it looks that way."

Thursday marked the first vote on a coronavirus package the chamber has taken since April. The bill included a $300 per week federal unemployment benefit, another round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding, money for testing and schools and liability protections against coronavirus-related lawsuits.

Asked what the next step is, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Sunday shows - Biden win reverberates Buttigieg: McConnell will have to decide if he'll stand in the way of health care, tax plans This election wasn't a zero-sum game, and it's going to be messy MORE (R-Ky.) punted the question to Democrats.

"[But] it makes you believe they really don't want to do another proposal. They want to wait until after the election and play games with this," McConnell said during an interview with Fox News.

Both sides say they are still interested in getting an agreement on another sweeping bill to help boost the economy and counter the devastating health impacts of the virus, which has killed approximately 191,000 people in the United States.

But neither appears to be willing to take the first step needed to break the logjam.

Talks between House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Biden co-chair says wins in traditionally red states 'will give him some coattails and some leverage' with Congress Democratic hopes on health care rest with Georgia Senate races Five takeaways from the battle for the Senate MORE (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck Schumer Five takeaways from the battle for the Senate Pelosi, Schumer call to congratulate Biden Democrats erupt in jubilation over Biden-Harris victory MORE (D-N.Y.), Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner Mnuchin Election scrambles prospects for next COVID-19 relief bill Pelosi: Biden has 'tremendous mandate' to push Democratic agenda Battle lines form over coronavirus fight in lame duck MORE and White House chief of staff Mark MeadowsMark Randall Meadows Florida GOP Rep. Mike Waltz tests positive for COVID-19 How Biden got across the finish line Multiple White House staffers test positive for coronavirus MORE derailed in early August amid deep divisions over both the price tag of the bill and significant policy differences like unemployment insurance and more money for state and local governments.

Democrats have offered to come down to $2.2 trillion, after House Democrats passed a $3.4 trillion bill in May. Senate Republicans offered an initial $1.1 trillion bill in late July, though Mnuchin has said they could come up to $1.5 trillion. But Republicans have rejected a request from Pelosi and Schumer that they increase their offer to $2 trillion — something administration officials and GOP senators have dismissed as a non-starter.

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin Graham Lindsey Graham: If Trump concedes election, Republicans will 'never' elect another president The Memo: Trump lost but is not vanquished Clyburn: 'Defund the police' slogan hurt Democratic candidates MORE (R-S.C.) initially indicated to reporters that he had talked with Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew Coons Sunday shows - Biden win reverberates Senate Democrat: Trump could show 'some graciousness' by backing pandemic relief package in lame duck session Sen. Chris Coons wins reelection in Delaware MORE (D-Del.) about trying to get a bipartisan gang together to try to figure out a way to break the impasse and reach a deal on a bipartisan package. He later clarified that such a group did not currently exist.

“I don’t know if there’s a market for that,” he said. “Now, there’s no gang, but Coons and I both said you know we ought to be able to find a way forward.”

Democrats have remained united against the GOP bill, arguing it was never meant to pass but instead let Republicans say they had voted for something in the final weeks before the November election.

Schumer, speaking to reporters Thursday, also predicted that political pressure would eventually force Republicans back to the negotiating table.

"Each time McConnell said, it's our bill or nothing, when it was a bill without any input from Democrats, when the bill was defeated they came back and we actually got some bipartisan stuff done. I would hope they would do that,” Schumer said.

Sen. Dick DurbinDick Durbin Uncertainty, Trump loom over packed year-end agenda GOP Rep. Rodney Davis fends off Democratic challenger in Illinois Durbin wins reelection in Illinois MORE (D-Ill.), Schumer's No. 2, said the talks get unstuck "when enough Republican senators are worried about their reelection."

"I can't believe that those that are in tough shape believe that this McConnell vote today is all they need for the rest of the election cycle," Durbin said.

Asked whether it was unlikely that the Senate would return to pass something before the election after leaving town in October, Durbin added: "I would agree with that. We better get this done in the next two or three weeks."

The Senate is scheduled to leave in early October until after the election. The House's schedule is even tighter: They will return Monday and are expected to leave by Oct. 2.

But as Democrats say they are waiting for Republicans to return to the negotiating table, GOP senators say whether there will be a deal is up to Democrats.

“It looks like they don't want to get to an agreement. ... So my guess is, as of now, unless Pelosi changes her mind and talks to the White House, there's not gonna be anything done,” said Sen. Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest Grassley Election scrambles prospects for next COVID-19 relief bill Barrett confirmation stokes Democrats' fears over ObamaCare On The Money: Power players play chess match on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi bullish, Trump tempers optimism | Analysis: Nearly 1M have run out of jobless benefits MORE (R-Iowa).