Meet in middle to solve impasse?

Republicans want a skinny package. Democrats want a hefty package. What about meeting in the middle, say something in the medium size? Congress remains in a stalemate over another economic stimulus package. There has been no action for months, even as millions of Americans remain out of work. Both sides continue to dig in their heels, and remain about $1 trillion apart in how much they think the federal government should spend on extending unemployment benefits, loans to small businesses and aid to cities and states. Now a group of centrist lawmakers known as the Problem Solvers Caucus have unveiled a compromise plan. It calls for $1.5 trillion in new spending, about halfway between what Nancy Pelosi wants and what Mitch McConnell wants. Perhaps this group of centrist Republicans and Democrats can do what Pelosi and McConnell have not been able to do and find a path both sides can agree on. The plan should be put up for a vote. It can’t hurt. The worst it can do is fail. That only leaves us where we already are. Meeting in the middle can be hard because nobody gets everything they want. But if compromise still exists in the nation’s capitol, perhaps some congressional action is possible even as the clock ticks toward the end of this legislative session.