December 23, 2020: COVID-19 Legislative Update

COVID-19 - December 23, 2020

Policy Resolution Group COVID-19 Legislative Update

December 23, 2020

Liam's Bottom Line: So What Now?

I thought that was it for the holidays, but obviously I thought wrong. And since we have been kicking around the implications for the President's video stunt last night, I thought I'd share my take as an amateur MAGAologist.

Bottom line: nobody has any clue what he's going to do, including Trump himself; he got the desired goal of hijacking the news cycle and turning the tables, and a lot will depend on how he responds to the media feedback loop.

Sure, he probably doesn't veto (and didn't say explicitly that he would,) but I would not trust anybody saying they are certain of that. The other variable here is when the bill is presented to Trump--very sticky timetable in terms of how 10 days coincides with sine die adjournment January 3rd. If he does nothing, a few hours here could be the difference between becoming law by default and a pocket veto.

Keep an eye on whether they can get him the enrolled bill today, because that may be the whole ballgame, or at least tell you whether Congress controls its own destiny.

Georgia looms large in all of this, and amounts to the best hostage the President has. The problem is last night’s stunt amounted to shooting his own hostage in the leg, and the Democrats are delighting in calling his bluff.  Democratic leadership in Congress has latched onto the idea of boosting the EIP checks to $2000, and in a Dear Colleague letter today (see below) Speaker Pelosi indicated her intention to hold a vote (or at least dare Republicans to deny consent) as early as tomorrow. I'd be shocked if Republicans went along with this stunt, but remember, even if they did there's still no guarantee Trump would sign the broader bill he professes to hate.

Big picture dates to keep an eye on that could inform the action (or inaction):

  • 12/26- expiration of PUA/PEUC CARES unemployment programs
  • 12/28- expiration of current CR funding the government
  • 1/3- 116th Congress officially must adjourn by 11:59 am

 

Will keep you posted as things develop.

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122320

Dear Colleague on Unanimous Consent Request to Increase Economic Impact Payments

Dear Democratic Colleague,

Just when you think you have seen it all, last night, the President said that he would possibly veto the bicameral agreement negotiated between Republicans and Democrats.  He said he would do so, unless the economic impact payments were increased to $2,000.

In the bipartisan negotiations, Leader Schumer and I repeatedly asked Republicans what would be the highest number the President would accept for direct payments, and they responded with Sphinx-like silence.  In the negotiations, they would never go above $600 and in some cases, proposed $500.

Yesterday, I said that Democrats would go to the Floor and ask for Unanimous Consent to bring up a standalone bill to increase the payments.  To do so requires the agreement of the Republican Leader.  This agreement is necessary in the House and in the Senate. 

If the President truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments, he should call upon Leader McCarthy to agree to our Unanimous Consent request.

We are scheduled to go in for a pro forma session tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.  We are awaiting word from Leader Hoyer as to whether Leader McCarthy will agree to or reject our Unanimous Consent request.

The entire country knows that it is urgent for the President to sign this bill, both to provide the coronavirus relief and to keep government open. 

Let us pray!