Senate Republicans take the lead on massive stimulus package, sidestepping Democrats for now

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has assigned his Republican conference with the task of drafting a massive GOP stimulus plan that can also satisfy the White House, shutting out Democrats, at least for now.

The plan gives Republicans the chance to stake out their position and set a price on a historically large stimulus plan that could amount to $1 trillion or more and provide direct cash payments to workers, loans to small businesses, and a bailout for the airline industry.