Senate Republicans are now saying that the next bill won't happen before next week because, in Republican Whip John Thune's words: "Just vetting all the different ideas and proposals probably takes a while." Those ideas they are vetting are only coming from Republicans. Never mind that Sen. Elizabeth Warren has had a comprehensive coronavirus response plan for weeks, or that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader has a fully formed plan. No, McConnell is shutting the Democrats out of this process so that he can take credit for the goodies that are going to be in it—some form of direct cash payments to individual Americans and families. In the meantime, while they drag out this process, more people are losing their jobs, getting sick, and dying.

McConnell wants to make sure that he keeps all of his Republicans happy and he wants to make sure that Republicans get credit. So he's set up a ridiculous and cumbersome process in which three different and all-Republican task forces of senators draw up their own legislation and then negotiate with one another and the White House for the combined project. Then and only then does McConnell intend to allow Democrats—Senate and House—to have a say.

Schumer blasted the process and McConnell's motive on the floor Wednesday morning, saying it "is too cumbersome, too partisan, and will take far too long given the urgency and need for cooperation." He pointed out that "Secretary Mnuchin says he wants legislation passed by the end of the week. The McConnell process will not get us there." That's the end of THIS week, and now Republican leadership is admitting they won't have a bill to vote on until next week. As Schumer argued, this "should be the product of a five corners negotiation—House and Senate Leaders, majority and minority, plus the White House. […] If all parties are in the room from the get-go, the final product will be guaranteed swift package."

Pelosi and Schumer need to come together now, with Mnuchin, to demand McConnell abandon his game-playing and finally work swiftly for the American public.