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House passes $2.2tn coronavirus economic stimulus package for US House passes $2.2tn coronavirus economic stimulus package for US
(about 2 hours later)
Package overcame last-minute obstacle when Republican attempted to force a recorded vote but was ultimately adopted by voice votePackage overcame last-minute obstacle when Republican attempted to force a recorded vote but was ultimately adopted by voice vote
Congress gave final approval on Friday of a $2.2tn economic stimulus package designed to rush federal aid to workers, businesses and a healthcare system ravaged by the coronavirus, uniting to overcome a last-minute attempt to delay its passage. Congress gave final approval on Friday to an unprecedented $2.2tn economic stimulus package designed to rush federal assistance to workers and businesses as the coronavirus pandemic devastates the US economy and healthcare system.
Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican of Kentucky, attempted to force a recorded vote on the bill but was overriden by a unanimous show of force against the motion. The legislation was adopted by a voice vote. It next goes to Donald Trump, who has said he would sign it. The House approved the bill in a voice vote, after leaders in both parties united to overcome one Republican’s last-minute attempt to delay its passage. The bill next goes to Donald Trump, who has said he will sign it.
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. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, attempted to use a procedural maneuver to force a recorded vote that requires lawmakers vote individually. He was overruled by an unanimous show of force.
In a series of 11 tweets, Massie, a libertarian member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, explained his rationale. House leaders sought to avoid a recorded vote so lawmakers would not be forced to return to Washington amid the coronavirus pandemic. The last-minute drama brought strong bipartisan criticism of Massie, from the White House down.
“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?” The legislation will deliver one-time direct payments of $1,200 to most taxpayers and substantially enhance unemployment benefits. The measure also creates a $500bn lending program for businesses, cities and states and a $367bn fund for small businesses.
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. The relief comes as the US has surpassed China and Italy in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and a record 3.3 million Americans have filed for unemployment. The Senate approved the measure in an extraordinary 96-0 vote on Wednesday night.
There is no doubt the rescue package has enough support to pass. The Senate approved the bill in a unanimous vote on Wednesday night. Earlier on Friday, Trump berated 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!”
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!”
“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.”“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.”
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.” Trump also heaped praise on former secretary of state John Kerry, a frequent target of his wrath, for a humorous but salty tweet claiming Massie “tested positive for being an asshole” and gave new meaning to the colloquial phrase “Masshole”.
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”. In a series of 11 tweets, Massie, a libertarian member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, explained his rationale.
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. “The constitution requires that a quorum of members be present to conduct business in the House,” he said.
“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. “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?”
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. A memo from the sergeant-at-arms, Paul Irving, and the House attending physician, Brian Monahan, suggested members of the chamber whose ages span 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.
Earlier, Massie dismissed concerns about legislators having to fly back to Washington, noting he chose to drive and suggesting stranded colleagues might “hitch a ride with a trucker”.
His colleagues were 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.
“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 [more than] $200,000 in taxpayer money to counter your principled but terribly misguided stunt,” the Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips tweeted late on Thursday.
The Republican Fred Upton, of Michigan, drove nearly 10 hours to “help get this thing over the finish line”. Several lawmakers from western states said they would fly in.
“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.”
​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. ​As the crisis deepened 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.
Congresswoman Haley Steves, a freshman Democrat from Michiganwore pink latex gloves to emphasize the risks faced by medical professionals combatting the virus. Congresswoman Haley Steves, a freshman Democrat from Michigan who drove through the night to get to Washington,wore pink latex gloves to emphasize the risks faced by medical professionals combatting the virus.
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. When her speaking time had expired, Stevens, whose district outside Detroit has been devastated by the spread of the disease and the economic fallout, began to shout over the chairman as he ruled her out of order.
“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. “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.
​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. “You will see darkness! You will be pushed,” she said.
​Moments later New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose state is at the center of the outbreak, delivered an impassioned speech on the shortcomings of the bill.
“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!”“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. As the debate came to a close, House speaker Nancy Pelosi asked lawmakers to assemble on the House floor and in the galleries above, typically reserved for the public, in order to ensure social distancing.
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. When it was time to vote, a resounding “Yea” echoed throughout the chamber. Massie was among a handful of discordant “Nos”.
“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.” “I came here to make sure our Republic doesn’t die by unanimous consent,” he said, demanding a roll call vote. With at least the 216 required lawmakers present, the gavel cracked. His efforts failed and the legislation cleared the chamber.