Democrats block GOP narrow coronavirus aid package

Senate Democrats Thursday blocked a Republican bill that would have provided a new round of federal aid to battle the effects of the coronavirus.

Senate Republicans introduced the bill Tuesday hoping to attract enough Democratic support to achieve a 60-vote threshold needed to begin debate. But no Democrat was willing to vote in favor of the bill, a narrower relief package that would have provided roughly $500 billion for coronavirus treatment, help for schools and universities, and a new round of loans for small businesses. The vote was 52-47, falling eight votes short of the threshold.