Stimulus Bill Needed by 89 Percent of Voters, Democrats and GOP Equally to Blame for Delay: Poll

The majority of voters believe America needs a further stimulus bill with Republicans and Democrats both taking blame for the delay over such a package.

In recent Financial Times-Peterson Foundation polling, 89 percent of those asked said another relief package was needed.

Of those asked, 39 percent said we need to pass another package, with the Democrats and Republicans equally at fault for this having not happened.

Around a quarter, 26 percent, said one was needed and GOP lawmakers were most responsible for there not being such a package. While 23 percent said one was necessary but Democrats were those who deserved blame for it not having been agreed on.

The remaining 11 percent said another coronavirus aid package is not needed.

The questions were put to 1,003 likely voters nationwide, asked online from September 9 to 14.

It comes after previous polling saw there is bipartisan support among Americans for more stimulus checks, while other surveys have shown people want such support in order to cover basic living costs.

The CARES Act, signed by President Donald Trump in March, provided around $2 trillion of funding which included measures such as $1,200 direct payments to support people through the coronavirus crisis.

The HEROES Act, proposed by Democrats, passed the House of Representatives in May. However, it was met with opposition from Republicans in the Senate, who branded it dead on arrival following its passage from the lower chamber.

Lawmakers on both sides largely agree upon a level of further relief, though spending has been a major sticking point.

The HEROES Act was worth $3.4 trillion roughly, while Republicans initially aimed for a cap of around $1 trillion.

A so-called skinny proposal from GOP leadership in the Senate, worth around $500 billion, was rejected by the upper chamber.

White House negotiators and Democratic figureheads have held talks in order to reach a deal likely to be able to pass both chambers, though they have been unable to agree upon such a plan.

Each side has blamed the other for the impasse.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has received particular blame from Democrats of late, having previously called for a pause in negotiations. He has then pushed against Democrat proposals, while he has faced criticism over his priorities due to his swift response to the president's desire to have his Supreme Court nomination voted through to fill the vacant seat left by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

From the other side, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has been a focal point of ire from Republicans, having declined to budge from her compromised position of a $2.2 trillion spend.

Newsweek has contacted McConnell, Pelosi and the White House for comment.