Pelosi, Mnuchin Infrastructure Talks Are Accelerating

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said talks between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal on funding for infrastructure are accelerating.

Pelosi told reporters Thursday she spoke with Mnuchin the previous night about implementing last week's coronavirus stimulus bill quickly and looking ahead to the next legislation, which could include infrastructure spending.

"Whatever communication we need to move forward, that will be happening," Pelosi said.

Mnuchin and Pelosi also discussed making sure seniors will not need to file special tax returns to get the payments included in last week's stimulus law.

"We also have to implore the Fed to do what it can to help municipalities and states," she said. "They don't really need more debt."

She said Fed Chairman Jerome Powell told her to think big, "and we want him to think big, too."

Pelosi and other Democratic leaders said Wednesday the next coronavirus stimulus bill should include at least $760 billion for water projects, broadband and transportation, as well as additional support for community health centers, education and housing to strengthen U.S. infrastructure and the economy.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told The Washington Post later Wednesday that Pelosi's comments about a phase-four coronavirus response measure were "premature."

"She needs to stand down on the notion that we're going to go along with taking advantage of the crisis to do things that are unrelated to the crisis," McConnell told the Post.