After Christmas drama, Trump signs COVID "disgrace" into law

House to vote Monday on $2,000 direct checks, defense veto override

What a crazy last few days. The President gives in on COVID relief. No government shutdown. Meanwhile, the House could deal him a big veto setback today. This is "Regular Order" for Dec. 28, 2020.

TRUMP SIGNS COVID "DISGRACE." After five days of drama spurred by his own hand, President Trump caved to pressure in both parties and signed a COVID relief / Omnibus funding measure into law on Sunday night. "In terms of economic policy, this may have actually been the dumbest few days of his entire presidency," tweeted University of Michigan economics professor Justin Wolfers. The President’s delay changed nothing, except that he blindsided GOP lawmakers who voted for the plan, and raised questions about whether the aid money would even be provided.

• NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. The President's decision to sign the giant 5,593 page bill ended any threat of a government shutdown on Monday night, and more importantly it finally approved a variety of Coronavirus relief: $600 direct checks to many adults, billions in help for small businesses through the popular Paycheck Protection Program, emergency aid for airlines, extended federal jobless benefits, virus help for schools, and much more.

Matt Glassman @MattGlassman312

It’s really academic at this point, but Trump’s veto bargaining strategy on the Omnibus/COVID bill is both a masterclass in how not to use the powers of the POTUS to influence public policy, as well as exemplary of his entire debacle of a legislative presidency.

HOUSE TO VOTE ON $2,000 CHECKS. One main objection from President Trump about the COVID relief bill was the size of the direct checks. The President said he wants $2,000 for adults, more than triple the $600 amount negotiated with Congress by his own Secretary of Treasury. The House will vote to increase those payments on Monday to $2,000, as Democrats will now put GOP lawmakers on the record. Will Republicans stick with the President and vote for the increase? Stay tuned.

• THE TRUMP COVID DRAMA. The oddest part about the President's threat to hold up the COVID / Omnibus agreement was that this bill was the direct product of White House negotiation. The President's own Secretary of Treasury signed off on the deal after lengthy talks involving both parties in Congress. And the spending bills included in the measure were also the result of bipartisan deal making. GOP leaders not only okayed the agreement, they hailed the votes in favor. And then, President Trump hung them out to dry for five days.

HOUSE TO VOTE ON VETO OVERRIDE. Overshadowed by the virus relief fiasco, the House will vote Monday evening to override President Trump's veto of a $740 billion defense policy bill. Like the $2,000 direct checks, this vote will be another test for many GOP lawmakers. Will they go against the President? Mr. Trump objects to provisions letting the Pentagon rename bases named after Confederate generals. And he wants unrelated provisions dealing with social media in the bill.

• SECTION 230 BAT SIGNAL. President Trump said Sunday that Senate leaders have agreed to 'start the process' on repealing Section 230, dealing with social media companies. Translation? That tells me the White House knows the defense bill veto override will succeed in both the House and Senate, and this is a way to allow GOP Senators to support repeal, but also vote to override the veto. There is no way Congress is voting anytime soon to repeal §230.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. 25 years ago today, December 28, 1995, President Bill Clinton vetoed a major defense policy bill passed by the GOP Congress. The House would later fall short of the two-thirds needed to override the veto. The bill included a 2.4 percent pay raise for service members. That veto came during an extended government shutdown fight, which lasted for 21 days. (Sounds sort of familiar, huh?)

UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:

House meets at 2 pm for legislative business.

Senate meets at 10 am. If the House overrides the President's defense bill veto, the Senate will take up the measure on Tuesday.

President Trump is at his Florida retreat.

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