Now that the excitement of the election has finally begun to cool, some lawmakers in Washington are getting back to work on the stimulus package2.

In a letter sent Thursday (November 5) to President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rep. Cindy Axson (D-Iowa) urged the three leaders urged the three leaders to move negotiations forward and reach an agreement by the end of 2020.

"There is no more campaigning left to distract and distract from the negotiations. I urge you to move quickly to finalize a COVID relief package that will halt the spread of this virus and ensure that no more Americans have to fear homelessness, economic insecurity, unemployment, or business closures this year." [Families need help to survive the winter and prevent a wave of evictions in January. Anyone who has experienced an Iowa winter knows that heating is not an option. To save lives, we must help pay for heating and utilities."

Axun, a first-term Democrat, was reelected Tuesday by a narrow margin. But she is not alone in proposing an agreement as soon as possible.

Several Republicans had previously said they were open to considering legislation after Election Day, and even McConnell, who won re-election in Kentucky, has changed his tune.

McConnell said Wednesday (Nov. 4) that a stimulus package would be "job one" in the post-election lame-duck session.

Meanwhile, Pelosi wants to start talks again, according to the Washington Post.

"I want the Republicans to come back to the table," Pelosi said Friday (November 6). 'There is no further need for action.'

It is not clear how negotiations will proceed between House Democrats, Senate Republicans, and the White House.

Republicans have resisted spending levels proposed by Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, even putting together two "skinny" bills that do not include stimulus check 2.

McConnell said yesterday that he is open to considering Democratic priorities, including aid to state and local governments.

But speaking to reporters in Kentucky on Friday (November 6) after the release of a report showing strong economic growth in October and a sharp drop in unemployment, McConnell dismissed the idea that he might be open to a major stimulus bill.

"Our economy is really trying to get back on its feet. I think it reinforces the argument I've been making for the last few months that something smaller is more appropriate than throwing another $3 trillion at this problem."

Asked to comment on McConnell's words, Pelosi said, "It doesn't appeal to me at all because we haven't agreed yet to destroy the virus."

Getting back to the table may not be easy. After months of amicable talks, Pelosi and Mnuchin lashed out at each other in the week before the election. A source told the Post that the White House now wants McConnell to take over negotiations with Pelosi.

In other words, we may not see meaningful progress on stimulus check two anytime soon.

As Washington Post reporter Erica Warner tweeted on Friday, "A week into the stimulus negotiations, we are back to McConnell saying 'go small' and Pelosi saying 'go big. It seems as if nothing has changed, but maybe it has.