Bipartisan coronavirus relief talks stuck on liability waiver

Liability shield for employers still a work in progress; direct aid to households also a sticking point

A group of House and Senate lawmakers from both sides of the aisle has fleshed out details of their $908 billion coronavirus relief plan, except for the two thorniest issues: business liability protections and state and local aid.

A six-page summary of the group’s proposal circulated Wednesday morning said they had an “agreement in principle” to provide $160 billion in direct aid to states and localities and indemnify employers in some way from coronavirus-related lawsuits.

But that agreement didn’t solidify into finalized language Wednesday as negotiators had hoped. Continue reading.