Pelosi: White House must agree to more COVID-19 aid for talks to resume

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House must agree to spend more money on coronavirus aid during a phone call slated for Thursday afternoon, if talks aimed at a deal on new legislation are to move forward.

Pelosi was to talk about coronavirus relief with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows by phone at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), the first chance in weeks to revive stalled COVID-19 aid negotiations.

“Are you willing to meet in the middle? If so, we can have a conversation. If not, I’ve returned your call,” Pelosi said at a news conference.

“We’re not budging. Understand this. They have to move,” she added. “They’re just going to have to come up with more money.”