Stimulus talks among lawmakers and White House officials, which seemed to be gaining momentum in recent weeks, have now slowed down due to wrangling among lawmakers and the fact that several proposals, not all of which include unemployment benefits and stimulus checks2, have been brought up for consideration.

Here is a breakdown of what each bill would entail and what relief Americans would receive.

The most talked about bill is the $908 billion plan unveiled last week by a group of centrist senators from both parties. Their proposal would restart federal subsidies for state unemployment benefits at $300 per week (half of last spring's CARES law) for 16 weeks.

It also extends rental assistance and payroll protection program funds and provides assistance to cash-strapped state and local governments, a key Democratic demand that Republicans hate, but does not include a second stimulus check.

Adding the stimulus would cost the bill over $1 trillion and would make its passage in the Republican-led Senate hopeless.

The bipartisan proposal appeared to have the support of President-elect Joe Biden, who said it would be "better" if it included a stimulus package2. However, because of the lack of a direct stimulus package, many members of Congress from both parties opposed the bill.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) introduced his own stimulus package that would provide neither unemployment benefits nor Stimulus 2.

Like the bipartisan bill above, it would create liability protection for COVID-related lawsuits by small and large businesses alike, a Republican provision that Democrats dislike.

Previously, McConnell had expressed support for continued federal unemployment assistance, but the measure was included in two $500 billion "skinny" bills that failed to pass the Senate earlier this fall. It is unclear where the measure stands now that the White House has introduced a separate proposal (see below), but it is one that Senate Republicans are likely to pass.

McConnell thought he had the White House's support, but earlier this week Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suddenly offered a third proposal.

The White House's $916 billion bill would send a one-time $600 stimulus check to eligible Americans and extend unemployment benefits for freelance and "gig" workers by one month.

In terms of satisfying both parties, it provides the corporate responsibility protections Republicans want and the local government support Democrats want. However, federal weekly supplements to those who normally receive unemployment benefits from the state will not be reinstated.

"We see this as a more effective way to get funding quickly," Mnuchin said Wednesday.

Congressional Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with Mnuchin's proposal as a sign of divisions within the Republican Party. The party's post-election proposal would have been led by McConnell until the White House changed its mind. [Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said this week that "it's not helpful to have multiple voices." However, McConnell has tacitly endorsed the White House's idea, which so far has been the official Republican position.

Finally, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has expressed opposition to the bipartisan Senate agreement, citing the lack of a stimulus check2 but calling for another round of direct payments regardless of what plan is passed. On Thursday (December 10), he introduced a stand-alone bill that would send a check for $1,200 to American taxpayers using the same eligibility requirements contained in the CARES Act.

His effort, which would cost about $300 billion, has received support from liberal lawmakers and, reportedly, President Trump.

"I would be surprised if he didn't support $1,200 for an individual and $2,400 for a couple," Hawley said Tuesday of the president. 'My sense is that is a very high priority.'

With no real Democratic Party views at this point, anything could happen.

The party's congressional leaders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have yet to shoulder a single proposal. They called the $908 billion bipartisan bill a good "starting point" and expressed hope that Stimulus 2 will be added later.

Prior to the election, Democratic leaders were pushing for a nearly $2 trillion bill that would include a $1,200 stimulus package and $600 weekly unemployment supplements. However, Pelosi and Schumer may have hoped that a Democratic "blue wave" of voters would bring them control of the Senate and more seats in the House. That did not happen, and their position is weaker than it was in October.

An additional $1,200 in new bipartisan legislation would bring the total to about $1.2 trillion. However, adding just $600 to the stimulus package would cost less than the $1.1 trillion bill proposed by Senate Republican leadership in July.

Important issues besides the bill's cost are liability protection for businesses and aid to state and local governments. Everyone seems to agree that another round of stimulus is a good thing, as long as the costs are not too high.

Yesterday (December 9), McConnell suggested that we "put aside these two controversial pieces of the puzzle and press on with the huge pile of things we agree on." How the Democratic leadership will react remains to be seen.