A fight over funding for state and local governments is emerging as an early flashpoint in talks over another coronavirus relief bill.

The clash — which pits Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare House lawmakers reach deal to avert shutdown Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' Jacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee MORE (D-N.Y.) — is raising fresh questions about the ability to keep Congress’s response to the coronavirus bipartisan.

Congress has already appropriated nearly $2.8 trillion to combat the severe economic and health impact of the coronavirus, as 26 million people have filed for unemployment and nearly 51,000 people have died in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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But Democrats are pledging to get more help for state and local governments in the phase four coronavirus relief bill that could pass Congress as soon as next month.

“There will not be a bill without state and local, OK?” Pelosi said when asked about the potential that it will be left out.

Pelosi has characterized it as the “centerpiece” of the next bill but declined to say how much Democrats will push for. She told reporters during a press conference that the number is probably “equivalent to what we've done for small businesses.” Congress has provided nearly $660 billion in loans to businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program.

That puts Democrats squarely at odds with McConnell, who set off alarm bells among governors and lawmakers from hard-hit states when he said this week that states should be allowed to declare bankruptcy as they seek more money from the federal government to deal with the economic fallout from the coronavirus.

“I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route,” McConnell told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

“My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of,” he added.

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McConnell has positioned Republicans as wary of additional funds for state and local governments, saying the idea would have to be “thoroughly evaluated” within his conference.

The issue is just the latest point of tension between McConnell and Pelosi, who clashed earlier this month over whether another coronavirus relief bill was even needed.

Pelosi, on Friday, asked reporters, “Speaking of Mitch, what’s gotten into him?”

“The president is asking people to inject Lysol into their lungs, and Mitch is saying that states should go bankrupt. It's a clear, visible within 24 hours of how the Republicans reject science and reject governance,” she said.

The two are on different timelines as they contemplate another round of federal help. Democrats want to have a bill ready to go by the time they return to the Capitol as soon as May 4, indicating that they expect to take the lead on the legislation.

“Speaker and I will begin rolling up our sleeves and working on that big, broad [phase four bill] very soon and very quickly. ... At the top of the list is a big robust state and local plan,” Schumer told reporters.

But McConnell is calling for lawmakers to “pause” while they evaluate the effectiveness of the nearly $2.8 trillion already appropriated by Congress and the impact the spending will have on the debt.

“We need to push the pause button here and remember that the only ultimate way out of this dilemma is for the economy to slowly begin to open back up,” he told WYGE, a Kentucky radio station.

McConnell’s skepticism about providing more funding for state and local governments comes after both President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of emergency loans | House seeks to salvage vote on spending bill | Economists tell lawmakers: Kill the virus to heal the economy Economists spanning spectrum say recovery depends on containing virus Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs MORE have indicated that they are open to including additional aid in whatever coronavirus-related legislation Congress passes next.

Trump, in a tweet urging Congress to pass the interim bill, said that he was then ready to “begin discussions on the next Legislative Initiative with fiscal relief ... to State/Local Governments for lost revenues from COVID 19.”

He added during a White House briefing on Thursday that he had spoken to McConnell and “a lot of different senators.” Trump described himself as “open” to providing more financial help for state and local governments.

“We're looking to do what's right for a particular state. And we'll see what happens. But it's certainly the next thing we’re going to be discussing because some states ... have not done very well for many years, long before the virus came,” Trump said.

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Schumer predicted that there would ultimately be enough support for more money to be included in Congress’s next bill, arguing that McConnell’s statement is “out of the mainstream.”

“We can force it to happen in the [phase four] bill, and I think there is enough bipartisan support, despite what McConnell did, to get that done,” Schumer told NPR.

Some Republicans, such as Sens. Bill Cassidy William (Bill) Morgan CassidyCoushatta tribe begins long road to recovery after Hurricane Laura Senators offer disaster tax relief bill Bottom line MORE (La.) and Rob Portman Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Romney undecided on authorizing subpoenas for GOP Obama-era probes Congress needs to prioritize government digital service delivery MORE (Ohio), have indicated they are open to more help for state and local governments.

State officials warn that without additional federal assistance, they face deep budget holes as businesses have scaled back or closed altogether, depriving them of a tax base. Unlike the federal government, every state but Vermont has a requirement to maintain a balanced budget. Current law doesn’t allow states to declare bankruptcy.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Fearless Girl statue in NYC dressed in lace collar to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg NYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' MORE (D), the chairman and vice chairman of the National Governors Association, are asking for an additional $500 billion "in direct federal aid that allows for replacement of lost revenue."

Congress included $150 billion for state and local governments in last month’s $2.2 trillion package. But the $484 billion bill that passed this week did not include more funding amid warnings from Republicans that including it would prevent the bill from easily passing the Senate.

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One idea being floated by GOP senators is to give states and local governments more flexibility with how they use the $150 billion. Sen. John Thune John Randolph ThuneSenate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Romney backs pre-election Supreme Court vote, paving way for McConnell, Trump Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (S.D), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said the rules around the initial tranche of money could be “broadened.”

“There’s not enough money in Washington or in the world for that matter to solve all the problems we have,” Thune told C-SPAN. “There is $150 billion in the pipeline already, which could be broadened to give state and local governments more flexibility in how it's used. But I think we need to see, once those dollars get out there, how effective they are ... before we start adding to it.”

Several GOP senators have aligned themselves with McConnell, arguing that they don’t want to provide “bailouts” for states.

“I don’t have an interest in bailing out states like California, Illinois, New York,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) told reporters.

Sen. Thom Tillis Thomas (Thom) Roland TillisThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA head questions connection of climate change to natural disasters | Pebble Mine executives eye future expansion in recorded conversations | EPA questions science linking widely used pesticide to brain damage in children Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight MORE (R-N.C.) said that he would not support a “broad-based bailout,” and that was “more or less aligned with Leader McConnell on the issue.”