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Members of Congress race back for $2.2tn stimulus vote amid fears of delay Republican congressman says he will delay vote on $2.2tn stimulus package
(about 2 hours later)
Trump assails Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie as ‘third-rate grandstander’ for threatening to hold up passage of stimulus bill Trump assailed Thomas Massie as a ‘third-rate grandstander’ earlier on Friday for threatening to hold up legislation
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. Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican of Kentucky, said on Friday that he would force a recorded vote on the $2.2tn stimulus package, a move that will delay – but not derail – its passage.
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. House leaders had hoped to avoid a recorded vote so that lawmakers would not be forced to return to Washington amid the coronavirus pandemic. The last-minute drama sent House members scrambling to find flights back to the capital in time for the vote, scheduled for Friday, and brought strong bipartisan criticism of Massie, from the White House on down.
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. In a series of 11 tweets, Massie, a libertarian member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, explained his rationale.
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. “The Constitution requires that a quorum of members be present to conduct business in the House,” he said. “Right now, millions of essential, working-class Americans are still required to go to work during this pandemic such as manufacturing line workers, healthcare professionals, pilots, grocery clerks, cooks/chefs, delivery drivers, auto mechanics, and janitors (to name just a few). Is it too much to ask that the House do its job, just like the Senate did?”
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. 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 roll-call 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.
“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.” There is no doubt the rescue package 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.
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”. Earlier on Friday, Trump assailed Massie for threatening to hold up the legislation, calling him a “third rate Grandstander” and “a disaster for America, and for the Great State of Kentucky!”
Massie has left a trail of hints about his intentions – but has not said definitively whether he will object to a voice vote. “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.”
“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.” Trump also heaped praise on former secretary of state John Kerry, a frequent target of the president’s wrath, for a humorous but salty tweet claiming Massie “tested positive for being an asshole” and gave new meaning to the colloquial phrase “Masshole.”
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. Earlier 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”.
His colleagues were furious at the eleventh-hour gambit. 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.“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.”“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.”“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. ​As the crisis deepened in states across the country, with the US death toll rising to more than 1,200, lawmakers shared a sense of urgency. In more than three hours of debate, which began on Friday morning and was split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, lawmakers made impassioned pleas for their communities.
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. Congresswoman Haley Steves, a freshman Democrat from Michiganwore pink latex gloves to emphasize the risks faced by medical professionals combatting the virus.
“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.” When her speaking time had expired, Stevens, whose district outside of Detroit has been doubly devastated by the spread of the disease and the economic fallout from the pandemic, began to shout over the chairman as he ruled her out of order.
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. “I rise for every American who is scared right now,​” she shouted, holding her gloves in the air as the presiding chair banged the gavel and other members joined the fray. “You will see darkness! You will be pushed,” she continued.
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. ​Moments later New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose state is at the center of the outbreak, delivered an impassioned speech denouncing the bill’s shortcomings.
“What did the Senate majority fight for?​” she said, her arms punching the air in fury.​ “One of the largest corporate bailouts with as few strings as possible in American history. Shameful!”
In the event of a recorded vote, 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, 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.”