Despite lawmakers from both parties hoping for a stimulus package in the weeks following the election, the American people may not see a stimulus package, or even a $1,200 check, before January.

In a radio appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show this past Friday (October 30), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) indicated that he would wait until early 2021 for the Senate to begin work on a reduced stimulus bill, CNBC reported.

"We're going to need another package, more modest than the $3 trillion Nancy Pelosi package. That will be necessary at the beginning of the year." (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) latest proposal actually called for a $2.2 trillion stimulus package.)

"The latest proposal is a $3 trillion stimulus package,"

"It's a lot more modest than the $3 trillion Nancy Pelosi package.

The majority leader's remarks were in contrast to those of other Republicans, some of whom said last week that they were open to considering legislation once the election pressures had passed.

President Trump also called for swift action, telling reporters on Friday that "we will have a tremendous stimulus package in place right after the election."

Similarly, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she was optimistic about an agreement within weeks. She continues to negotiate with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has been negotiating on behalf of the White House and the Republican Party in general.

"We don't have to wait that long because the people have needs," Pelosi told MSNBC.

Observers have already noted that it will be difficult to sell major legislation in the weeks leading up to Election Day, and the next steps for Stimulus Check 2 may depend largely on what happens on November 3.

So far, the White House has moved closer to the Democrats' $2.2 trillion HEROES bill, which includes Stimulus Check 2. The two sides are still debating issues such as the amount of aid to state and local governments and whether to include corporate liability protection for coronavirus-related lawsuits.

The Senate, meanwhile, has held two procedural votes on separate but similar $500 billion "skinny" bills. Neither bill included the stimulus check2 and both were blocked by Democrats. Congressional Republicans have all along promoted a smaller bailout package than the one Pelosi and Mnuchin discussed.