PELOSI OBSTACLE TO VIRUS AID
WASHINGTON — Three weeks before Election Day, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi what millions of Americans were thinking: Why was she refusing a White House offer of $1.8 trillion in COVID-19 relief? “There are millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, they can’t pay the rent, their kids need the food,” Blitzer told Pelosi. He noted she had written to her caucus that “the president only wants his name on a check to go out before Election Day” and asked, “Is that what this is all about, to not allow the president to take credit if there’s a deal that would help millions of Americans right now?”
“No, I don’t care about that,” Pelosi claimed, and repeatedly accused Blitzer of being an “apologist” for Trump. It was a laughable charge, intended to obscure the fact the truthful answer was yes — that’s exactly what this is all about. Struggling Americans don’t care whose name is on the check. They just need the money. But Pelosi seems to care more about stopping Trump from sharing credit for a bipartisan solution. Why else turn down multiple GOP offers for relief?
In July, Senate Republicans offered $1.1 trillion, including $300 billion for stimulus checks to Americans, $200 billion to help small businesses, $110 billion for unemployment benefits, and $105 billion in aid to state and local governments. In September, the White House raised the offer to $1.6 trillion; in October, to $1.8 trillion. But Pelosi steadfastly refused, insisting on $2.2 trillion or nothing. Twice, Senate Republicans tried to pass more limited $500 billion bills, but Democrats filibustered both. Why? The only logical answer is that any stimulus would have boosted the economy before the election, and Pelosi was willing to drive the economy into a ditch to hurt Trump.
Well, Trump lost — but so did Pelosi. Voters took their anger out on House Democrats. Pelosi will now preside over the smallest House majority in years, and is in danger of losing the House in 2022.
Has she learned her lesson? Apparently not. Pelosi is still insisting on $2.2 trillion or nothing. This is shameful. We are in the midst of the worst spike in new COVID cases since the pandemic began. Businesses are being forced to close, and workers are again being laid off. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has offered to pass the $500 billion package immediately, which includes a $300-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit. Why not get immediate help into people’s hands?
Any effective legislator knows the way to get things done on Capitol Hill is to take what you can get and then come back for more later. If Republicans keep the Senate, Democrats will have to compromise down the road anyway — so there is no downside to compromising now.
Pelosi’s all-or-nothing approach is immoral. Before the election, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, criticized Pelosi, tweeting, “People in need can’t wait until February.”
There is one Democrat who could make Pelosi see reason: President-elect Joe Biden. But at a recent news conference, Biden admonished Trump for playing golf instead of leading COVID relief negotiations, and called on Congress to pass a $3 trillion bill he knows has zero chance of approval. Sorry, Trump is not the obstacle to progress here. If Democrats don’t change course, Biden will pay since he will inherit a weaker economy than he would have if Pelosi accepted the Republican offer.
During his victory speech, Biden declared, “The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another … It’s a decision, a choice we make. And if we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate.”
It’s about time Biden told Pelosi to decide to cooperate.