Chris Wallace rips both parties for coronavirus package impasse: ‘Pox on both their houses’

“Fox News Sunday” anchor Chris Wallace on Friday lashed out at Democrats and Republicans for failing to pass a coronavirus relief package before benefits lapsed, warning “millions of people are going to suffer” because of the impasse after the Senate adjourned this week until September.

“For me, it’s a pox on both their houses,” Wallace said on the “Fox News Rundown” podcast. 

“Here’s a case where the country is in such desperate shape. You’ve got millions of people who are unemployed. They’ve now lost the $600 benefit. And there’s some question as to whether they’re going to get a $300 benefit. And if so, how soon?” Wallace asked in continuing.

“Small businesses, the PPP, the Payroll Protection Program money has run out, eviction protections have run out. You’ve got millions of people who are really going to suffer because of this.”

“Wouldn’t you think that somewhere in between 1 and 3 trillion dollars you could arrive at some figure that would help people in trouble?” Wallace later added. “So I, frankly, I blame them all. I think it really stinks.”

Coronavirus relief talks continued to be stuck in a stalemate this week after the House left Washington and isn’t expected to come back until Sept. 14.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday said he would allow senators to return home until September following the relief bill impasse.

“We will have our regular pro forma meetings through the end of the state work period. If the Speaker of the House and the minority leader of the Senate decide to finally let another package move forward,” McConnell said Thursday. “It would take bipartisan consent to meet for legislative business sooner than scheduled.”

McConnell added that he hoped the Senate would be able to “act sometime soon.”

If congressional Democrats, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows are able to break the stalemate, senators will be provided 24 hours notice to return to vote. If that does not happen, the Senate will formally reconvene on Sept. 8.