Biden sends Ukraine more weapons as Congress okays extra aid
GOP filibuster blocks new round of COVID relief
The delay on Ukraine aid is over in the Senate. Democrats finally have something to talk about on gas prices. And an interesting request from the Jan. 6 committee. This is “Regular Order” for May 20, 2022.
UKRAINE. Using the last $100 million from a previous aid plan, President Biden on Thursday authorized the delivery of more weapons to Ukraine, just as the Senate gave final approval to another $40 billion aid package to fight off a Russian invasion. "I applaud Congress for passing the security package I requested," Mr. Biden said.
PENTAGON. The U.S. military said the latest aid includes 18 extra howitzers, counter-artillery radars, towing vehicles, and spare parts. This new package will give him the authority to transfer another $11 billion in military aid.
SENATE. The final Senate vote for the plan was 86-11, as the same 11 Republicans who tried to filibuster the package all voted against the bill: Blackburn TN, Boozman AR, Braun IN, Crapo ID, Hagerty TN, Hawley MO, Lee UT, Lummis WY, Marshall KS, Paul KY, and Tuberville AL.
SCHUMER. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer ridiculed those GOP Senators, repeatedly labeling them ‘MAGA Republicans.’ “It appears more and more MAGA Republicans are using the same soft-on-Putin playbook used by former President Trump,” Schumer said.
PRICE GOUGING. After days of arm-twisting, Democrats finally took a legislative step on high gas prices, as the House on Thursday approved a bill to target price gouging. The vote was 217-207. But while House Democrats can say they voted to do something - this bill isn't going anywhere in the U.S. Senate.
MESSAGING. Most importantly for Democrats, this vote gives them something to use to push back against GOP attacks - since Democrats have offered very little legislation dealing with inflation, high gas prices, or high food prices. Here’s one example from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).
CONCERNS. But it was obvious this week that many Democrats would like more than just this price gouging plan. After a lot of arm-twisting, four Democrats voted against the bill in the House: Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY).
MURPHY. "At best, this bill is a distraction that won’t actually address the problem," said Murphy. "The reason that gas prices are rising is demand exceeds supply, and so the way to bring down prices is to increase supply."
DRILLING. That's exactly what Republicans argue. "Price-fixing is yet another stupid idea by these democratic socialists," said Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL). Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) said the bill was a “lame attempt by Democrats to deflect responsibility and shift blame for the high prices at the pump.”
WHAT IF. I still think if there was a clear vote allowed in the House and Senate on a bill to expand domestic oil and gas exploration - it would pass with a large bipartisan majority. But Democrats aren’t going to let that happen.
THE HOUSE. After voting on the price gouging bill, lawmakers headed home - for a while - as House members won't be back on Capitol Hill until June 7. That's right, the House is now out for the next two-plus weeks, after being in D.C. for a total of just eight days in the month of May.
SENATE. Senators will be at work next week, but they are taking a long weekend. Usually, there is a bed check vote on Monday evening. But next week, the first votes won’t take place until 2:30 pm on Tuesday. On the horizon for Senators is a 10-day break anchored by Memorial Day.
COVID RELIEF. A bipartisan $48 billion package of COVID help for restaurants and other businesses was blocked by a Republican filibuster in the Senate on Thursday. Backers had 52 votes, but that was short of the 60 needed to force action on the measure. The outcome was not a surprise.
GOP SUPPORT. There was bipartisan support for the measure. Five Republicans broke ranks and voted against a filibuster: Blunt MO, Wicker MS, Cassidy LA, Collins ME, and Murkowski AK. But that wasn't enough.
MONEY. One reason the package ran into trouble was the cost. Only about $5 billion was paid for, making it easy for GOP Senators to vote ‘No.’
TREATMENTS. Meanwhile, there's still been no vote set on a $10 billion package to fund new vaccines, antivirals, and tests. The White House says that's needed to help deal with a recent increase in Coronavirus cases.
PENNA SENATE. Mehmet Oz lost a few more votes on Thursday, but still holds an over 1,100 vote lead over Dave McCormick in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. This race will certainly go to a recount and won’t be settled until next month. It wouldn't surprise me to see the final margin of less than 500 votes.
TRUMP. For a second straight day, Donald Trump was stirring the waters in the Keystone State on behalf of Oz, and again making evidence-free claims of possible election fraud. "Stop FINDING VOTES in PENNSYLVANIA," Trump said on his version of Twitter.
PROCESS. It’s very ironic to watch Republicans complain about a slow vote count in Pennsylvania. The GOP there refused to change election laws to allow mail votes to be counted before Election Day. Ohio and Florida start that work weeks in advance - that's why they finish fast, and Pennsylvania does not.
OREGON. The delays also continue in Clackamas County, Oregon, where Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) trails in his primary - but thousands of ballots still have to be counted. There's still no clear answer on why over 50,000 ballots in that county were printed with defective barcodes.
CAPITOL ATTACK. After being asked for his voluntary testimony before the January 6th committee, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) denied on Thursday that he led anyone on 'reconnaissance tours' of the U.S. Capitol complex the day before the Jan. 6 attack, as the special panel put a special spotlight on the Georgia Republican.
LOUDERMILK. "A constituent family with young children meeting with their Member of Congress in the House Office Buildings is not a suspicious group or 'reconnaissance tour,' Loudermilk said in a written statement. "The family never entered the Capitol building."
COMMITTEE. “Based on our review of evidence in the Select Committee’s possession, we believe you have information regarding a tour you led through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021," the panel said in a letter. It was not clear if this was the same family group referenced by Loudermilk.
REQUEST. Loudermilk did not specifically respond to the panel's request for him to answer questions - though he labeled the investigation a 'political circus,' and again called on the Capitol Police to release surveillance tapes from the day before the attack.
TOURS. Democrats have made claims in the past that GOP lawmakers led tour groups before the attack - but have never backed it up with any evidence. Maybe the Jan. 6 committee has something new. Stay tuned.
PUERTO RICO. Joined by the Governor of Puerto Rico, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers unveiled a draft plan on Thursday to provide for a concrete path forward for the island territory, whether that's statehood, independence, or some kind of other association with the United States. The message - it’s up to Puerto Rico.
STATUS. With competing legislation about Puerto Rico in Congress, the new compromise announced yesterday is a bill which would allow a plebiscite on the island's future. "We deserve a full democracy and we don't want to wait any longer," said Governor Pedro Pierluisi.
REAGAN. I always like to remind people that Ronald Reagan made statehood for Puerto Rico part of his campaign for President in 1980. Like this plan, Reagan wanted the people of Puerto Rico to make that choice in a free election, instead of the Congress making that decision.
CAWTHORN. After taking a day to digest his primary defeat, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) returned on Thursday in a fighting mood. "The time for gentile politics has come to an end," Cawthorn declared on Instagram, as the North Carolina Republican said his opponents need to be rebuked. "Their days are numbered."
LAME DUCK. I suggested the other day that Cawthorn could still cause a lot of trouble in GOP circles - as he still has over 7 months left in office. "Cawthorn is not going quietly," said Dr. Michael Bitzer, a politics professor at Catawba College in North Carolina.
DARK MAGA. "It's time for the rise of the new right," Cawthorn wrote on Thursday. "It's time for Dark MAGA to truly take command. We have an enemy to defeat."
ELECTIONS. Cawthorn's defeat was a reminder that voters will tolerate an awful of stuff from elected officials - but sooner or later they will lose their patience. And while Cawthorn is out, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is probably sticking around. That’s my column this week for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
ASIAN AMERICANS. The Senate on Thursday sent President Biden a bill to set up an eight person special commission which would be tasked with creating a national Asian American history and culture museum in Washington, D.C.
HIRONO. "Asian and Pacific Islander American communities have made significant contributions to American life," said Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, "but despite these undeniable contributions, our communities have largely been excluded, or erased from American history."
LOOKING BACK. It’s always good to hear from readers. It’s great when they remind you that your past reporting was spot on.
REGULAR ORDER. On Fridays, we welcome back our free subscribers. Support my independent reporting on Capitol Hill with a subscription, or give the 'gift of straight news' to someone you know!
TRANSACTIONS. A second lawmaker in Congress is passing on news of their engagement this week. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) confirmed last night that she will be getting married. “It’s true,” she tweeted.
MUSE OF HISTORY. May 20, 1890. On this date, the Senate was deep into debate on how far states could go to block direct alcohol shipments to consumers. At issue were state laws which prohibited alcohol - but people got around that by ordering booze directly through the mail in its 'original package.' "The effect of the bill, if it shall become a law, will be to leave every State in the Union free to determine for itself what its policy shall be in respect of the traffic in intoxicating liquors," said Sen. James Wilson of Iowa. The law would be named after him - the Wilson Act - which helped states stay 'dry.'
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House next has votes on June 7.
The Senate will have votes next Tuesday.
President Biden’s daily schedule link.
Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree. Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com
See the full Regular Order archive.
On Puerto Rico draft plan, in my opinion, it will remained as just that, a draft...
It would appear that Cawthorn is somewhat confused about the meaning of the word 'gentile'. On the other hand, he's made it abundantly clear that his behavior is anything but genteel.