Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin disputed claims by the conservative-leaning Wall Street Journal editorial board, questioning whether Republicans have a plan for the future of the economy.
The particular editorial he addressed on Sunday, which discussed the politics behind the coronavirus relief negotiations in Congress, suggested Mnuchin was someone quick to give in to the demands of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is a Keynesian whose idea of compromise is half of whatever Mrs. Pelosi wants,” the late July editorial said. “And Mrs. Pelosi’s bill is essentially a down payment on her election agenda. She’ll take what she can get now and campaign on the rest and more.”
Mnuchin defended himself on Fox News Sunday, saying he would never agree to anything that isn’t greenlighted by his boss, President Trump.
“I don’t take the Wall Street Journal editorials personally,” Mnuchin said. “Sometimes they have good things to say, and sometimes it’s nonsense, like this case. As I’ve said before, I don’t agree to anything that I don’t review with the president. I speak to the president daily.”
Congress remains at a stalemate over how much spending lawmakers want to put in the next aid package, with Democrats wanting a starting number of at least $2 trillion, which is double what Republicans have proposed.
Last month, the Senate adjourned with no progress made while millions of people continue to face unemployment and economic uncertainty prompted by the pandemic. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Capitol Hill after Labor Day.
Mnuchin said he has been speaking with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republicans daily. However, he emphasized that any bills set to pass require bipartisan support.
