LEADERS FAIL U.S. AGAIN
Congress can’t agree on $2 trillion in aid to save the economy
Senate Democrats blocked a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package from moving forward Monday, stalling the enormous measure for the second day in a row as partisan tensions reached a fever pitch on Capitol Hill.
The Republican-backed legislation needed 60 votes to pass a key procedural hurdle that would have allowed it to move to floor debate and final passage.
But the bill failed in a 49-46 tally, as Democrats argued the procedural move was a pointless political charade since negotiations on the package remain ongoing.
“The upcoming procedural votes are essentially irrelevant,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.
“The negotiations continue no more than 30 feet away from the floor of the Senate in our offices, where the real progress is taking place. Once we have an agreement that everyone can get behind, we are prepared to speed up the consideration of that agreement on the floor.”
The package first failed in a 47-47 vote Sunday night.
Democrats are blocking the rescue bill over concerns that it doesn’t contain enough relief and protections for American workers while offering sweeping handouts for corporations.
Among the major disagreements:
● Democrats object to the bill’s proposed $500 billion in loans for hard-hit industries, saying there aren’t any guardrails to ensure transparency and oversight in those subsidies. The Dems have called the component a “slush fund.”
● Democrats are also incensed that the bill is proposing to give Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin nearly full discretion to decide which companies receive subsidies — without having to publicly disclose the payments for six months.
● Additionally, Democrats want the legislation to include more funding for hospitals, health care workers and others on the front lines of the battle against the virus, in addition to expanded unemployment insurance for independent contractors and gig workers.
Despite the lingering disputes, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put the package up for a vote Monday without making any adjustments, seemingly ensuring its failure.
McConnell (R-Ky.), who’s usually hard-pressed to allow votes on any legislation that isn’t a safe bet, grew visibly angry after the measure failed again and accused Democrats of “obstruction.”
“Absolutely mindless obstruction going on on the other side,” McConnell said after the vote. “The American people have had enough of this nonsense. They want to know where we are.”
Tensions boiled over on the floor before the vote, as Schumer objected when Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) asked for recognition to speak.
“This is bulls—t!” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) shouted, sparking a tense debate over floor procedures.
As the screaming match simmered down, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) chimed in: “This country was founded by geniuses, but it’s being run by a bunch of idiots.”
Complicating matters for McConnell is the fact that three GOP senators — Rand Paul of Kentucky, Mitt Romney of Utah and Mike Lee of Utah — went into self-quarantine Sunday after Paul tested positive for the virus, rendering them unable to show up for votes. McConnell has rebuffed a Democratic request for remote voting.
Monday’s failed vote sent the stock market into another tailspin amid mounting fears that the virus could bring about a recession.
Trump — whose reelection bid is centered on the previously strong state of the U.S. economy — called on the Senate to approve the GOP plan “as written” without acknowledging the Democratic laments.
“They have to get together
and just stop with the partisan politics,” Trump said during an evening briefing at the White House. “They have to make a deal. This should not be a time for political agendas.”
Trump also announced he had signed an executive order ordering the Justice Department to prosecute people who are hoarding supplies in an attempt to artificially inflate prices or otherwise seek to profit off of the virus.
Attorney General William Barr, speaking at a coronavirus briefing for the first time, noted that people who “have a big supply of toilet paper” do not “have to worry.”
Health experts say people should avoid social interaction to the greatest extent possible in order to slow the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 33,000 in the U.S. and killed at least 400.
Economists fear that the U.S. unemployment rate could hit a nearly unheard of 20%, as places of business close down and workers are forced to stay home.
Still, Trump claimed the U.S. will “be open for business very soon.”
“A lot sooner than three or four months that somebody was suggesting,” Trump said without elaborating.
Members on both sides of the aisle want the economic relief bill to include funds to bankroll personal checks for every American.
McConnell has proposed a $1,200 check to every citizen who makes less than $99,000 a year. Some Democrats say the checks should be more sizable.
The latest failure to advance the bill forced negotiators back to the drawing board.
Schumer met privately with Mnuchin several times over the weekend.
A source close to the negotiations told the Daily News that Schumer and other Democrats are pushing Mnuchin to agree to include language that would prohibit Trump’s namesake business empire from applying for any of the government subsidies.
The aide said Mnuchin is going to have to “swallow” the proposed Trump Organization ban.
As negotiations dragged late into the night Monday, the source said Republicans had agreed to Schumer’s so-called health care Marshall Plan, which would give more than $120 billion to hospitals and providers most harshly affected by the virus — particularly facilities in New York City.
The cash will be used to bankroll personal and protective equipment, testing supplies, staff increases, training and construction, among other components, the source said.
Despite the latest Senate snag, Mnuchin struck an upbeat tone while speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill after a meeting Monday.
“We’re making a lot of progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a Democratic counterproposal that would move the needle on some of her party’s priorities, including beefing up unemployment insurance and prohibiting corporations who receive subsidies from laying off workers or buying back stocks.