While 90% of Americans want Congress to pass another stimulus package, the shape, size and pricetag of a plan is holding up negotiations with just 17 days to go before the election.

President Trump has underscored his willingness to get the deal done, but Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appears to be standing firmly against a massive package—insisting instead on a "highly targeted" approach.

Trump and McConnell are on course to clash over the price tag on the package that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is negotiating with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif).

A proposal from Democrats, the HEROES Act, had a $3.4 trillion price tag, but that was followed by an updated version with a lower $2.2 trillion cost.

The highest White House offer to date has been a $1.8 trillion proposal. Senate Republicans and McConnell have previously expressed their desire for a $1 trillion cap on spending.

The impasse continues as 90% of registered voters want Congress to pass another economic stimulus bill to help distressed small businesses and employees, according to a new survey of registered voters conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

A resounding 89% of registered voters agree that Congress should remain in session until reaching an agreement on an economic stimulus package.

President Trump has voiced his support for higher spending and the potential to "go big or go home" on stimulus.

But McConnell appeared unmoved regarding calls to push through more expensive measures, insisting yesterday that he prefers a "highly targeted" approach.

"My members think what we laid out, a half a trillion dollars, highly targeted, is the best way to go. So that's what I'm going to put on the floor,” McConnell said.

While both Pelosi and Trump have each suggested smaller details have been the real sticking points, the overall cost has been the real hurdle in the Senate.

"It's not about the dollar amount, it's about the funding that it will go to," Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC yesterday.

Despite clashes over specifics, she also reiterated her desire for a deal to be struck. "We all want to have an agreement. My message is out there: Help is on the way. We want it safer, we want it bigger, we want it better—and it will be retroactive. We have to come to agreement,” Pelosi said.

“It is well past time for our leaders in Washington to pass a stimulus bill to help these employees and businesses in the hardest-hit industries, including and especially, ours. It is unacceptable for Congress to adjourn without passing a bill,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA.

The survey of 1,994 registered voters, conducted in October, found that voters (50%) believe the travel and tourism industry was the most affected by the economic downturn caused by Covid. Other highly affected industries include food and beverage (34%), education (26%), retail (19%) and health-care (18%), according to the survey.