This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/27/washington-coronavirus-stimulus-bill-vote
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Members of Congress race back for $2.2tn stimulus vote amid fears of delay | Members of Congress race back for $2.2tn stimulus vote amid fears of delay |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Trump assails Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie as ‘third-rate grandstander’ for threatening to hold up passage of stimulus bill | |
| Members of Congress are racing back to Washington, despite social isolation guidelines, out of fear that a lawmaker could delay a Friday vote on the $2.2tn economic stimulus package designed to rush federal aid to workers, businesses and a healthcare system ravaged by the coronavirus. | Members of Congress are racing back to Washington, despite social isolation guidelines, out of fear that a lawmaker could delay a Friday vote on the $2.2tn economic stimulus package designed to rush federal aid to workers, businesses and a healthcare system ravaged by the coronavirus. |
| The desire by House leaders was to pass the bill with a “voice vote” – when everyone in the chamber shouts “aye” or “no” and the loudest group prevails. But any member of Congress can demand a rollcall vote and require a quorum, forcing at least 216 lawmakers to return to Washington in the midst of a pandemic to ensure the bill passes. | The desire by House leaders was to pass the bill with a “voice vote” – when everyone in the chamber shouts “aye” or “no” and the loudest group prevails. But any member of Congress can demand a rollcall vote and require a quorum, forcing at least 216 lawmakers to return to Washington in the midst of a pandemic to ensure the bill passes. |
| There is no doubt the law has enough support to pass. The Senate approved the bill in a unanimous vote on Wednesday night. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said she expected broad bipartisan support and Donald Trump has said he would sign it into law. | |
| All eyes are on one Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, a libertarian from Kentucky with little loyalty to party leadership, who has expressed his dismay about moving forward on the legislation without a recorded vote. | |
| In a series of tweets on Friday morning, Trump assailed Massie as a “third rate Grandstander” and “a disaster for America, and for the Great State of Kentucky!” He suggested Republicans should “throw Massie out” of the party. | |
| “He just wants the publicity. He can’t stop it, only delay, which is both dangerous...& costly,” Trump wrote. “Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault.” | |
| On Capitol Hill, Massie dismissed concerns about legislators having to fly back to Washington, noting that he chose to drive and suggesting stranded colleagues might “hitch a ride with a trucker”. | On Capitol Hill, Massie dismissed concerns about legislators having to fly back to Washington, noting that he chose to drive and suggesting stranded colleagues might “hitch a ride with a trucker”. |
| Massie has left a trail of hints about his intentions – but has not said definitively whether he will object to a voice vote. | Massie has left a trail of hints about his intentions – but has not said definitively whether he will object to a voice vote. |
| “They’re trying to convince us it should be a voice vote. It shouldn’t be recorded,” Massie told a radio station on Thursday. “I’m struggling with this.” | “They’re trying to convince us it should be a voice vote. It shouldn’t be recorded,” Massie told a radio station on Thursday. “I’m struggling with this.” |
| His colleagues are furious. At least two House members have tested positive for coronavirus, while a number of others are awaiting test results or in quarantine after coming into contact with an infected person. | His colleagues are furious. At least two House members have tested positive for coronavirus, while a number of others are awaiting test results or in quarantine after coming into contact with an infected person. |
| “Dear @RepThomasMassie: If you intend to delay passage of the #coronavirus relief bill tomorrow morning, please advise your 428 colleagues RIGHT NOW so we can book flights and expend ~$200,000 in taxpayer money to counter your principled but terribly misguided stunt,” the Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips tweeted on Thursday night. | |
| Republican congressman Fred Upton of Michigan said he was “driving back to DC to help get this thing over the finish line” while several lawmakers from western states said they were jumping on red-eye flights to make it back in time. | Republican congressman Fred Upton of Michigan said he was “driving back to DC to help get this thing over the finish line” while several lawmakers from western states said they were jumping on red-eye flights to make it back in time. |
| “Getting on a red eye,” the California congressman Mike Levin tweeted. “Too much is at stake and Americans can’t afford to wait any longer.” | |
| “I am jumping on the red eye tonight,” the Arizona congressman Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, tweeted. “Thanks Massie.” | |
| On his flight was another member of the Arizona congressional delegation, the Republican Paul Gosar, who Gallego said helped assist a passenger who passed out on the flight. Gosar is a dentist. | |
| The House will convene at 9am ET. There will be three hours of debate on the legislation before they attempt to pass the bill by voice vote. | |
| “Members are advised that it is possible this measure will not pass by voice vote,” the House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, wrote in an advisory to members on Thursday night. “Members are encouraged to follow the guidance of their local and state health officials, however if they are able and willing to be in Washington DC by 10am [Friday]. Members are encouraged to do so with caution.” | |
| If a recorded vote is required, the House is planning to enforce strict social distancing guidelines, allowing members on the floor to vote in small groups to avoid crowding. | If a recorded vote is required, the House is planning to enforce strict social distancing guidelines, allowing members on the floor to vote in small groups to avoid crowding. |
| A memo from the sergeant-at-arms, Paul Irving, and the House attending physician, Brian Monahan, not so subtly suggested members of the chamber, where the age range spans from 30 to 86, consider staying home. In bolded and underlined text, they wrote: “Members should use extreme care and deliberation when making the determination to travel to Washington DC. | |
| “We will be monitoring the number of members in the Capitol and on the floor to ensure we maintain safe social distancing at all times,” they added. “Members who are ill with respiratory symptoms or fever are discouraged from attending.” | “We will be monitoring the number of members in the Capitol and on the floor to ensure we maintain safe social distancing at all times,” they added. “Members who are ill with respiratory symptoms or fever are discouraged from attending.” |