Short-term punt seen likely for COVID-19 relief
WASHINGTON — Despite hopeful talk on both sides of the aisle, the odds are against congressional leaders reaching agreement on a COVID-19 relief package and omnibus appropriations bill to wrap up this year’s unfinished business in the lame-duck session.
The mostly likely outcome is another stopgap spending bill, perhaps into late February or early March, with some limited bipartisan COVID-19 aid attached. That’s the view of Capitol Hill officials in both parties and other legislative experts.
“I think I’d peg the odds as pretty low” on getting everything done before January, according to Gordon Gray, director of fiscal policy at the right-leaning American Action Forum. “They’re just not on the same page on COVID, and I don’t see much incentive to agree to an omni.”
Gray said he could see “maybe some additional funding for testing or public health in a (continuing resolution), but I don’t see a compromise on a fullyear omni or COVID deal in the lame duck.”
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., say they want to pass a pandemic bill and omnibus, but the differences over the size and content of a COVID-19 package that held up agreement before the election are still there.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump, who’s been focused on contesting the election results, came off the sidelines to prod lawmakers into reaching a coronavirus relief deal. “Congress must now do a Covid Relief Bill. Needs Democrats support,” Trump tweeted. “Make it big and focused. Get it done!”
And on Sunday President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “we need action during the lame duck” on a COVID-19 bill that would include aid to individuals and state and local governments. “So, our message to Speaker Pelosi is keep doing what you’re doing,” Klain said. “To the Republicans, let’s get this done.”
Complicating the situation is that time is running out, with the current stopgap spending law set to expire on Dec. 11.
It’s unclear whether Trump would sign an omnibus, or whether he and Senate Republicans can get on the same page on the scope of pandemic relief. Unless the appropriations package is to his liking, Trump may be inclined to insist on another continuing resolution, which would generally extend agencies’ spending authority at current rates.
“It’s a roll of the dice” on where Trump will come down on spending bills and COVID-19 aid, according to a House Republican lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly.
This lawmaker expects there to be broad support among Republicans for a “clean” stopgap funding bill to replace the current CR, but he was more circumspect about bipartisan support for a massive spending bill with partisan provisions.