THREAD

So what, exactly, is going on in the Senate with additional money for COVID-19 relief? Who's holding it up? Didn't the House pass legislation to increase money for us?

Here comes another too-damn-long, boring, legislative THREAD.

The House, led by the Democratic Party and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, voted on legislation that would provide an additional $1400 as a stimulus, on top of the $600 already approved. The Speaker ALWAYS pushed for a stimulus check; indeed, the idea for one was hers from the jump.

Remember, the CARES Act was the THIRD BILL the Speaker was able to get through the House. The Speaker, along with Reps. Maxine Waters and Bobby Scott, included language that stopped evictions and foreclosures, and delayed student loans, among other things.

Every step along the way? Republicans blocked additional money for unemployment benefits. For a higher stimulus check. Really, ANYTHING that helped people.

Speaker Pelosi, correctly understanding $1200 ain't going far these days, got the HEROs Act through Congress with mostly Democratic votes. This was a $3.3T bill that would have provided another round of $2K stimulus + money for cities, counties and states.

This act was later revised when Mitch McConnell + the Republicans said it cost too much money. (They offered a grand total of $0.) Speaker Pelosi cut it to $2.2T. Here is a summary:

https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/Updated%20Heroes%20Act%20One%20Pager_0.pdf

Talks stalled for months, until a bi-partisan coalition of Senators, led by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) cobbled a compromise. That legislation, which passed in the House and Senate, was JUST signed into law two days ago.

So where are we now?

Long story short?

McConnell is blocking the additional $1400 in stimulus money. When it left the House? It was a "clean" bill - just give the people an additional $1400.

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced the bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/9051/text

The bill passed 275 to 134.

Here's the House Roll-Call vote: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2020252 

The Senate will hold a quorum call today at 5 pm and then turn to a motion to proceed to the House's veto message of the FY 21 NDAA bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell needs 51 votes to move forward.

On Monday, Democratic Senators and Sen. Sanders threatened to filibuster the veto override vote, if McConnell refused to allow the Senate to vote on legislation to raise the COVID relief payments to $2,000 from $600.

McConnell will probably this filibuster with a cloture vote (a vote that stops debate) on Friday. Final veto override could be next year - January 1 or 2, 2021.

McConnell has a bill ain't clean. It would increase COVID checks to $2,000, BUT says Congress should investigate election fraud, AND eliminate section 230 that gives tech companies liability protection.

To read the bill: https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000176-b086-d162-a7ff-f18ef09e0000

The addition of voter fraud and Section 230 is what's called a "poison pill." McConnell knew this. Also, even if it passes, it's got to got to the House. Ain't no member of my Democratic Party ain't buying what Mitch is selling.

McConnell has opposed higher COVID relief payments since the House passed its HEROES bill in May. McConnell in May wanted to "pause."

Speaker Pelosi said "You want a pause? Tell that to the virus."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahhansen/2020/05/29/mcconnell-vows-the-next-stimulus-bill-will-be-the-last-one/?sh=359765f62e0b

For all the grief some far lefties give the Democratic Party and, in particular Sen. Joe Manchin? The reason why a COVID stimulus was done? The moral courage and leadership of Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Joe Manchin.

FIN/The reason why additional stimulus money has NOT been voted in the Senate?

Mitch McConnell and the majority of the Republicans in the Senate.

That's my TED talk for the day.