House Democrats Pass $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package
By CNBC. House Democrats on Friday passed a $3 trillion coronavirus relief package, unprecedented spending Senate Republicans have pledged to block as the major parties struggle to find a path forward on the pandemic response.
The chamber also approved voting by proxy and remote committee work. The rules changes, major moves for a tradition-bound institution, aim to make it easier for representatives to conduct business from outside of Washington during the crisis.
The House passed the rescue legislation in a close 208-199 vote, as Democrats saw defections from both the left and right flanks of the party. Fourteen Democrats voted against the bill and one Republican supported it. . .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made it clear he has no interest in taking up the proposal. On Thursday, he said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “published an 1,800-page seasonal catalog of left-wing oddities and called it a coronavirus relief bill.” The White House threatened to veto the legislation before the House voted.
Pelosi, a California Democrat, has characterized her party’s bill as an opening offer in what she hopes will become negotiations with Republicans on another round of fiscal relief. On Friday, she criticized Republicans who said they want to wait to pass more aid. (Read more from “House Democrats Pass $3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package” HERE)
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House Passes $3 Trillion Relief Package, Bill ‘DOA’ in Senate
By ABC News. . .The measure is not expected to be taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled Thursday that she is open to negotiating.
One Republican — Rep. Peter King of New York — supported the bill because of the relief the measure would provide to state and local governments. . .
“We’re putting our offer on the table, we’re open to negotiation,” Pelosi said Thursday, acknowledging the long odds of the bill becoming law.
In a letter sent to House members Thursday, Pelosi maintained that Republicans had previously supported many priorities that were included in this latest legislation.
“It is important to note that more than 80 percent of the priorities in the Heroes Act have been supported by the Republicans in the four previous COVID-19 acts of Congress. We are proud of how we built on that bipartisanship and look forward to negotiations For The People,” Pelosi wrote. (Read more from “House Passes $3 Trillion Relief Package, Bill ‘DOA’ in Senate” HERE)
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