Congress finally breaks impasse on virus aid

Votes in the House and Senate on the virus relief package are expected today.

It took a few extra days of talks, but Congress seems ready to approve a Coronavirus relief bill. Here’s your Monday edition of “Regular Order” for December 21, 2020.

CONGRESS REACHES DEAL ON COVID RELIEF. After seven months of finger pointing, House and Senate leaders finally hammered out their differences on Sunday over a package of Coronavirus relief, agreeing on an over $900 billion plan to provide more help to struggling businesses and Americans who have lost their jobs. The COVID relief includes $600 direct checks for many Americans, phased out at a yearly income level of $150,000 for a couple or $75,000 for an individual. Eligible families would get an extra $600 check for each child. Extended jobless benefits of $300 per week would be available into mid-March for those out of work. There's extra money for the small business PPP program, for schools to help deal with the virus, for airlines to keep paying their workers, and much more.

• THE MODERATES DID THEIR JOB. For months, both parties gave the evil eye to a bipartisan group of lawmakers who were trying to forge a compromise on Coronavirus relief. But a week ago, the group broke the ice when they agreed to split off one controversial provision from each party - $160 billion in aid for state and local governments favored by Democrats, and a GOP provision which would bar most virus lawsuits against businesses and schools. Ultimately, setting those off to the side helped to shape the final COVID relief deal, as Congressional leaders then forged a final compromise right around the $908 billion in aid proposed by the group. "Our consensus bill was the foundation of this final package," the group said in a statement. "Our bipartisan, bicameral coalition led the way," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS MAKES THE CUT. The Coronavirus relief is being combined with a $1.4 trillion government funding bill (the Omnibus) and a number of other unrelated tax and health care items. For example, a measure designed to rein in surprise medical bills will be part of this year-end package. "Patients have been on the wrong end of outrageous medical bills for far too long," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), part of a group which has been pushing for a deal with the White House. "I’m thrilled our efforts to protect consumers will soon be a reality," said Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The details will obviously be very important in how it works and is applied, but there was strong bipartisan support to help people avoid large out-of-network insurance charges when they seek medical treatment - especially at a hospital.

• LET’S VOTE AND GO HOME. Other than bullet points in press releases, most lawmakers went to bed on Sunday night without knowing much about the fine print of the COVID relief measure, the Omnibus funding bill, and all the legislative extras being tossed in. Despite that, most members seemed ready to vote for it, and go home for Christmas. Okay, well not everyone. "Nobody should vote for a bill they haven’t been given time to read and understand," grumbled Rep. Justin Amash (L-MI). Conservative Republicans also cried foul. But both parties were urging their members to support the deal. "This COVID relief is good news for thousands of small businesses and workers who have hung on," said House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy.

WAITING FOR A TRUMP VETO. President Trump has until Wednesday to veto a major defense policy bill, or it becomes law automatically. Over the weekend, Republicans disputed the President's public claims that the defense bill will somehow help China. "I want to get it on the record right now on the Senate floor and make sure everyone understands that this is the toughest thing on China," said Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who has tussled with Mr. Trump over the veto threat. If there is a veto, it's expected the House will come back next week to vote on a veto override, while the Senate might take it up on the morning of January 3, just before the 117th Congress convenes. Stay tuned.

FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS: Eleven years ago on this date, December 21, 2009, the Senate was working in the wee hours of the morning, voting after 1 am to shut off debate on a revised set of health care plans from Democrats. My tweet from 2:50 am on that day shows that I stayed at the Capitol all night - along with a couple of other radio reporters - so we could do Monday morning live reports a few hours later. The things you forget.

FROM THE THIRD DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA. Some Republicans in Congress are still having a difficult time accepting that Joe Biden will be sworn in as the next President on January 20. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) said Sunday that Biden’s swearing-in would be a 'conspiracy to dismantle America.'

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR MONDAY

House convenes at 9 am. Final votes at ???

Senate convenes at 12 noon. Final votes at ???

President Trump has no public schedule.

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"Conference reports may be brought up at any time, any further program will be announced later."