Dollar demands are an unnecessary barrier to more COVID-19 relief

Those leading negotiations on another COVID-19 relief bill have been sniping at each other for months now, and there is no end in sight.

One of the largest obstacles to another bill, and to more prudent policymaking in general, is the negotiators’ obsession with the top-line dollar amount of spending. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently reminded reporters that she offered to cut $1 trillion from the House-passed HEROES Act (a $3.4-trillion bill) if Republicans would come up from around $1 trillion in the Senate-introduced HEALS Act to a $2.4 trillion top line.