Republicans and Democrats could reportedly add $600 stimulus checks to $900 billion coronavirus-relief proposal

• Republicans and Democrats are nearing a deal on a $900 billion package that could include $600 direct payments for Americans, The Washington Post reported.
• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed optimism on Tuesday about the negotiations among congressional leaders.
• "We're making significant progress, and I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to complete an understanding sometime soon," McConnell said.

Republicans and Democrats were nearing a deal on a $900 billion relief package on Wednesday morning, The Washington Post reported. It would be a breakthrough in last-minute negotiations among congressional leaders.

Negotiations with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy picked up on Tuesday - they met twice in Pelosi's office for several hours.

The package could include $600 checks, The Post reported, but is likely to exclude two of the most controversial issues: assistance for state and local governments, and a sweeping liability shield for firms from virus-related lawsuits. The final amount of the checks, however, is still in flux, as well as the parameters on who would qualify to receive a federal payment.

Calls in Congress to include direct payments in a final rescue package have grown in the past two weeks, since the initial $908 billion bipartisan framework excluded them. Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri have threatened to hinder must-pass spending bills if their plan for $1,200 checks is not brought to a vote.

Their push coincides with another from a group of progressive House lawmakers who on Tuesday urged congressional leaders in a letter obtained by Business Insider to include $2,000 stimulus checks to provide immediate relief to struggling Americans.

Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranked member of GOP leadership, suggested to Capitol Hill reporters on Wednesday morning that the direct payments could be $600 or $700 per person though nothing was final. But he said lawmakers were scrambling to approve a final package by midnight Friday, the new deadline for government funding to dry up.

"I think both sides are sufficiently motivated given the time of the year and everything that's at stake and trying to get virus relief out there," Thune said.

McConnell struck an optimistic tone on the negotiations on Tuesday evening. "We're making significant progress, and I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to complete an understanding sometime soon," McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Read more: Mitch McConnell held up a stimulus deal for months over liability protections for businesses. Here are the biggest lobbyists and donors who've influenced his 'hard red line.'

Schumer said in a floor speech on Wednesday morning that an agreement on a government rescue package was near.

"We are close to an agreement. It's not a done deal yet. But we are very close," he said. "For Democrats, this has always been about getting the American people the relief they need."

A group of bipartisan lawmakers attempted to end the logjam over a new federal rescue package by introducing two separate bills on Monday. One contained $748 billion in funding with provisions that most lawmakers support, and the other included the liability shield and state funding. Those pair of issues has divided both parties.

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, a leader of the bipartisan group, told Business Insider the $748 billion package would form a blueprint for a final deal on Wednesday afternoon.

"The leader said today that it will be the spirit of what is put together by the four corners, so I expect you'll see major elements of that in the final package," he said in a brief interview on Capitol Hill, referring to McConnell and the three other congressional leaders.

Lawmakers have until late Friday evening to pass spending legislation or many parts of the federal government will shut down. Congressional leaders aim to merge the pandemic relief plan with an omnibus bill to fund federal agencies into September.