House rebukes Trump with veto override of defense bill
$2,000 COVID relief checks backed by Trump approved by House
The President loses big on a veto override in the House. Most GOP lawmakers voted against him on bigger COVID aid checks. Senate floor long range forecast: 100 percent chance of virus relief wrangling. This is "Regular Order" for Dec. 29, 2020.
HOUSE SWEEPS ASIDE TRUMP VETO. The message was clear on the House floor on Monday. Not a single Republican spoke up in support of the President's veto of a major defense bill. The 322-87 override vote wasn't close. "Trump vetoed the defense bill to defend the Confederacy," said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), noting how Mr. Trump opposed plans in the bill to let the Pentagon rename bases which honor Confederate generals. And the President’s demand to repeal the unrelated Sec. 230 relating to social media companies fell completely flat with lawmakers.
VETO HITS SENATE FLOOR TODAY. There is no reason to think Senate Republicans will somehow save President Trump from a veto override, which would be the first of his term in office. The defense bill passed 84-13 earlier this month in the Senate - far more than the two-thirds margin needed to reverse the President's veto. While debate is expected to begin today, the timing of the Senate veto override vote is still TBD.
HOUSE APPROVES $2,000 COVID CHECKS. With President Trump rejecting the $600 direct checks approved in a virus relief law, the House voted 275-134 to increase that amount to his preferred $2,000. But only 44 GOP lawmakers voted for the plan. "Looking at this bill today, it makes me feel like we're in the parliament of Afghanistan, Burundi, Yemen, or Bolivia," said Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), one of 130 Republicans who broke with the President, and voted against the larger checks.
"YOUR TURN, MITCH." The messaging was very clear as Democrats tried to put public pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over the House-passed $2,000 relief checks bill. "We're all watching, Mitch," tweeted Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA). "Your move, Mitch," said Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI). "If the American people do not get the relief that they need it is on Senate Republicans," said Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). You don’t have to be Robert Caro to imagine the partisan wrangling the Senate may see on COVID relief in the days ahead.
THE COST OF $2,000 CHECKS. The bill approved by the House on Monday is only five pages long, but it makes some important changes. More dependents - both child and adult would be included - and thus eligible for larger relief payments. More people would become eligible retroactively for the initial $500 recovery rebates offered earlier in 2020 in the CARES Act. Congressional number crunchers said the $2,000 checks measure would cost $463.8 billion.
GOP SUIT LETS PENCE CHANGE 2020 OUTCOME. The latest election lawsuit involving Republicans in Congress is basically an effort to give Vice President Mike Pence the unilateral authority to reject electoral votes for Joe Biden. The suit came as President Trump was tweeting out complete falsehoods about the 2020 vote results in Pennsylvania. Congress counts the Electoral Votes on January 6.
THE MUSE OF HISTORY. Fifty years ago today, December 29, 1970, both the House and Senate were still at work. The House approved a bill, "Regulating Practice of Psychology in the District of Columbia." Lawmakers were also trying to finish up work on government funding bills for the next year. (Some things never change.)
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
House is likely done with votes for the 116th Congress.
Senate meets at 12 noon, and will consider the defense bill veto override.
President Trump is at his Florida retreat.
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"Conference reports may be brought up at any time, any further program will be announced later."