Senate pulls all nighter on COVID relief
Senate holds longest vote ever as talks seal deal on jobless benefits
The sun came up Saturday in Washington with the Senate still struggling to finish a giant COVID relief bill. This is “Regular Order” for March 6, 2021.
SENATE. After a nearly 11 hour delay to hash out a deal on jobless benefits, Senators worked through the night voting on amendments to a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. It wasn’t clear how long the Vote-a-Rama would go, but if Democrats stick together, they will push this package to approval, and send it back to the House.
JOBLESS BENEFITS. With Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) forcing changes, Democratic leaders agreed to trim back jobless benefits to $300 per week (from $400). That would run through Labor Day, September 6.
TAX BREAK. The deal also included a plan which says the first $10,200 in jobless benefits would not be taxable. That would apply to households with less than $150,000 in income. The move came as some Americans who sought jobless help in 2020 were now facing surprise tax bills as a result.
NO TIES. With GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) leaving Capitol Hill on Friday because of a family funeral, Vice President Kamala Harris was not needed to break any ties in the Vote-a-Rama, as the most common result through the night was 50-49 in favor of whatever side was backed by Democrats.
MINIMUM WAGE. One of the most interesting votes was the first - and the longest. With a minimum wage increase stripped from the COVID relief bill by the Senate Parliamentarian, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) tried to add it back on Friday. He didn't get far. Sanders could only muster 42 votes - showing the $15 minimum wage remains a bridge too far for some Democrats.
BREAKING RANKS. 7 Democrats and 1 Independent refused to support Sanders: Carper DE, Coons DE, Hassan NH, King I-ME, Manchin WV, Shaheen NH, Sinema AZ, and Tester MT.
HISTORY. The minimum wage vote started at 11:03 am, and it was left open for 11 hours and 50 minutes, allowing for negotiations on jobless benefits. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell mocked Democrats when it was over. “Well, my goodness, it's been quite a start to this fast track process,” McConnell cracked.
GOP. Not surprisingly, Republicans voiced discontent with the details of the COVID relief measure. "Democrats moved to send re-opening money to schools that refuse to re-open," said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
PIPELINE. Republicans also lost an effort to add an amendment dealing with the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which President Biden put on hold. "Canceling Keystone makes no sense," said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND).
GOP ALTERNATIVE. Early this morning, the Senate voted 51-48 to reject a slimmed down COVID relief plan from Republicans. The $650 billion was touted as a more sensible and targeted effort. "The emergency we are facing should not be an excuse for funding partisan priorities," said a group of 11 GOP Senators led by Susan Collins of Maine.
SENATE. If you’re not familiar with the ‘Vote-a-Rama,’ even when debate time has expired in a situation like this, Senators are still allowed to introduce amendments. More amendments means more votes, hour after hour. It always seemed a little kooky to watch as a reporter, but that’s the ‘Regular Order’ in the U.S. Senate.
IMMIGRATION. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has asked President Biden for a meeting about illegal immigration. GOP lawmakers have been after Mr. Biden over his changes in border policy, as McCarthy argues the White House needs to 'strongly discourage people from making the dangerous journey to cross illegally.'
ATTACK LAWSUIT. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) has filed a lawsuit against former President Trump over the January 6 attack. The 65 page suit also names Rudy Giuliani, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), and Donald Trump Jr., arguing they incited a mob to attack the Capitol. It's the second lawsuit against Mr. Trump by a Democrat in Congress surrounding the attack by Trump supporters.
RAP SHEET. The arrests continue in the Capitol Attack. A Tennessee man who was one of the first to break into the building. A North Carolina man who happily posed for pictures in the Rotunda. The guy who wore the leopard print vest to the Capitol may have deleted his photos and videos - but a search warrant solved that.
TRUMP APPOINTEE. And here’s the link to the charges against a former Trump Administration aide. Federico Klein worked for the State Department - but on January 6 he evidently took time off from his government job to repeatedly assault police at the U.S. Capitol. It’s reportedly not his first brush with the law.
MUSE OF HISTORY. March 6, 1867. On this date, the Senate approved the creation of the Appropriations Committee, to focus solely on federal spending. "The purpose is to divide the onerous labors of the Finance Committee with another committee," said Sen. Henry Anthony of Rhode Island. The Senate on this date also renewed the Joint Select Committee on Retrenchment, which was designed to root out government fraud and waste. The House-Senate panel was created in 1866 in a bid to cut government spending. It would last only until 1871.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
The House meets Monday at 12 noon.
The Senate keeps working on COVID relief.
President Biden is in Washington. Schedule link.
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