Senate Democrats blocked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s attempt to quickly pass a $250 billion boost in aid to small businesses suffering revenue losses in the pandemic, likely delaying any action until leaders of both parties find a compromise.

McConnell had sought unanimous consent in the Senate Thursday for the small business aid requested by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are seeking twice as much help for the slumping economy, including more federal aid for state and local governments and added funding for hospitals struggling to treat a crush of coronavirus patients.

“We need more funding and we need it fast,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “The country cannot afford unnecessary wrangling or political maneuvering.”

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, a co-sponsor of the small-business Paycheck Protection Program, objected to the majority leader’s proposal, calling it “a political stunt.” Cardin said the PPP hasn’t run out of money but other programs have, and he said the PPP process needs to be streamlined to make it easier for small businesses trying to get loans.

Mnuchin had asked Congress to approve by the end of the week an additional $250 billion for the program, bringing the total amount available to $600 billion. But with almost all lawmakers out of town, the only way to accomplish that would be if no member of the House or Senate objected.

There have been no negotiations between Republican and Democratic leaders on a compromise and Pelosi has signaled she had no intention of bringing McConnell’s proposal to the House.

The Payroll Protection Program is a key part of the $2.2 trillion pandemic response package passed late last month. Stay-at-home orders across the country have particularly squeezed small businesses, which account for almost half of U.S. private employment. McConnell has said that program is the only one immediately short of funding.

Pelosi and Schumer on Wednesday proposed adding $100 billion for hospitals and $150 billion for state and local governments to Mnuchin’s request. They also want half of the additional small business aid -- or $125 billion -- channeled through community-based and other financial institutions that serve companies owned by farmers, families, women, minorities and veterans.

--With assistance from Billy House.

This article was provided by Bloomberg News.