1) President Trump’s decision to sign the combination COVID relief/government spending plan averts a government shutdown tomorrow night. The government was funded through 11:59:59 pm et Monday.

2) But the President’s decision to sign the bill means the government is now funded through September 30, 2021.

3) The President railed against the combination package last week – even though the final plan was negotiated by the top four bicameral, bipartisan Congressional leaders and his own Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin.

4) The plan passed with 359 votes in the House and 92 votes in the Senate.
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5) President Trump objected to foreign aid provisions which he deemed “pork” in the spending provision of the combination measure – even though Mr. Trump requested much of that money in his budget request sent to Congress earlier this year.

6) Many Republicans opposed any stimulus checks. But after wrangling, the sides settled on $600 checks. Then last week, the President, who was absent from the negotiations, demanded $2,000 direct payments.

7) So, House Democrats prepped a bill to provide for $2,000 payment checks. This bill will be on the floor late tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow night. At this stage, Fox is told the House will subject this to a two-thirds vote for passage.

8) Watch to see if Republicans align with the President now – or toe their line. And, by handling this bill as “suspension” (which speeds the bill to the floor but requires a two-thirds vote for passage), passage of the bill is not guaranteed.

9) But Fox is told by a member of the House GOP leadership that the measure should secure two-thirds.

Democrats are essentially daring Republicans to vote no. Hitting the two-thirds threshold is a challenge.

10) But, if the House plans to write a “rule” for the bill, the measure will just be subject to a simple majority for passage.

11) Democrats crafted the bill in a way to make the implementation of $2,000 checks contingent on the President signing the combo COVID/government funding plan. So, once the President saw the opportunity for the $2,000 with the House planning a bill, he agreed to sign the plan.

12) If the House passes the bill, it’s onto the Senate.

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) declared on New Year’s Eve that he didn’t think the Senate would have the appetite to tackle $2,000 in direct payments.

13) Then, the question is whether the Senate can handle such a package. The bill could be subject to one if not two filibusters. One, just to start debate on the bill. The other, to finish debate on the bill. That would require 60 votes.

14) Then, the question is whether the Senate can handle such a package. The bill could be subject to one if not two filibusters. One, just to start debate on the bill. The other, to finish debate on the bill. That would require 60 votes.

15) And, if the Senate does it by the book, the measure could take days to process in the Senate. However, if the Senate has the cooperation of all 100 senators, it can move very fast.

16) However, one senior GOP source doubted that the Senate could tackle the plan once it comes over from the House.