Trump pardons two ex-GOP lawmakers convicted of financial crimes
Trump roils Capitol Hill by attacking Coronavirus aid bill okayed by Congress
President Trump blasts the COVID relief bill passed by Congress, and pardons two Republicans guilty of white collar crimes. This is "Regular Order" for December 23, 2020.
TRUMP PARDONS HIS FIRST TWO U.S. HOUSE BACKERS. With less than a month left in office, President Trump on Tuesday pardoned two former GOP lawmakers who were found guilty of financial wrongdoing. Ex-Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) was in jail on charges related to insider trading - while ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) was going to prison soon for funneling campaign money to pay for personal vacations, meals, school tuition for his kids, and to fly the family’s pet bunny rabbit around the nation.
PARDON THE IRONY. One note about Chris Collins getting a pardon is that the original phone call tip to him - which led to the insider trading investigation against the New York Republican - came while Collins was actually at the White House for a South Lawn event with President Trump.
TRUMP CALLS FOR CHANGES IN COVID BILL. A day after Congress finally passed a $900 billion Coronavirus relief measure, President Trump ripped it in a recorded White House video - labeling it a ‘disgrace’ - and said Congress should revise the bill by increasing the $600 direct checks which will go to many Americans. The President did not specifically threaten a veto, but his opposition could certainly rattle some GOP lawmakers who voted for the bill. Democrats immediately called the President’s bluff, saying they supported his call for $2,000 direct payments.
LEGISLATIVE NERD NOTE: THE COVID RELIEF BILL ISN'T LAW YET. Yep, that's right. Because the final Coronavirus / Omnibus bill was so big (over 5,500 pages), Congress approved (and the President signed) a 7-day short-term funding bill to keep the government running. That gives legislative clerks the extra time to make sure the bill is correctly enrolled for Mr. Trump’s signature. Theoretically, the President could still veto this giant bill. “Mr. President. Veto this garbage,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) last night.
WAITING FOR A TRUMP DEFENSE VETO. President Trump must decide today whether to veto a major defense policy bill, or allow it to become law without his signature. With a 3 percent pay raise for the troops, and all sorts of local military projects, the bill has very strong bipartisan support. But the President opposes a provision letting the Pentagon rename facilities named after Confederate generals.
TRUMP VETO TIMING: Congress sent this defense bill to President Trump on December 11. He could have vetoed it at any time. But by waiting to the last day, the President’s veto would force lawmakers to interrupt their holiday break and return to Capitol Hill next week for a veto override vote.
CALIFORNIA GOV. TAPS PADILLA. With the impending job switch for Sen. and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris (D-CA), California Gov. Gavin Newsom will replace Harris with his Secretary of State Alex Padilla. The son of Mexican immigrants will be the first Latino in the U.S. Senate from the Golden State. Harris is expected to officially resign her seat in the Senate in January.
TRUMP STILL FIGHTING LOST CAUSE. As a small group of GOP lawmakers said they had the backing of President Trump to dispute the count of the Electoral College on January 6, the White House Chief of Staff was dispatched to Georgia on Tuesday where a signature match audit was going on in one suburban Atlanta county. Meanwhile, Michigan Republicans said their probe found no problems with voting machines used in November. Joe Biden will be sworn in four weeks from today.
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
House meets Monday December 28 for possible consideration of the President's defense bill veto.
Senate returns Tuesday December 29 for possible consideration of the President's defense bill veto.
President Trump flies to his Florida retreat for the Christmas break.
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"Conference reports may be brought up at any time, any further program will be announced later."