COMPILATION
AND COMMENTARY
BY
LUCY WARNER
MARCH
27, 2020
THIS
ISN’T EXACTLY WHAT PEOPLE NEED, BUT THE CADILLAC BILL WON’T BE POSSIBLE UNTIL
MORE PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS ARE ELECTED IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. 2020,
MAYBE. FOR THE NUTS AND BOLTS, SEE THE DAILY BLOG FOR MARCH
26, 2020.
House
passes $2 trillion coronavirus bill as problems for households and businesses
continue to mount
Trump
has vowed to sign the bill into law immediately; largest economic stimulus ever
By
Paul
Kane,
Mike
DeBonis and
Erica
Werner
March
27, 2020 at 1:48 PM EDT
The
House of Representatives voted Friday to approve a massive $2 trillion stimulus
bill that policy makers hope will blunt the economic destruction of the
coronavirus pandemic, sending the legislation to President Trump for enactment.
The
legislation passed in dramatic fashion, approved on an overwhelming voice vote
by lawmakers who’d been forced to return to Washington by a GOP colleague who
had insisted on a quorum being present. Some lawmakers came from New York
and other places where residents are supposed to be sheltering at home.
The
procedural move by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) drew bipartisan fury, including
from President Trump who derided him over Twitter as a “grandstander” who should
be tossed out of the Republican Party.
Massie,
who opposes the legislation because it adds to the deficit, insisted over
Twitter that he’d “sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution” and was simply
upholding that oath. The Constitution specifies that a quorum -- or majority of
the House -- should be present for legislative business, but that is rarely
enforced.
Coronavirus
live updates
The
vote came in a fast-paced series of events Friday afternoon, following about
four hours of debate during which lawmakers of both parties rose in turn to
speak in favor of the legislation, which will send $1,200 checks to many
Americans and hundreds of billions to small and large businesses.
Once
Trump signs the measure into law, the White House, Treasury Department, Small
Business Administration and other agencies will have to scramble to put it into
law, as many households and businesses have seen their cashflow dramatically
interrupted by the country’s economic shutdown.
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up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories
linked in the newsletter are free to access.
As
House debate drew to a close, congressional leaders urged lawmakers to file
into the galleries overlooking the House floor -- where the public usually sits
-- in order to attempt to maintain social distancing among the well over 200
lawmakers present. Some lawmakers had been watching the debate from their
offices to avoid crowding onto the House floor, in accordance to guidance from
the House Sergeant at Arms.
“Come
on my colleagues, to the gallery,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said
as she delivered closing remarks.
“Today
as we have all acknowledged our nation faces an economic and health emergency
of historic proportions,” Pelosi said.
As
Pelosi spoke, Massie stood in the center aisle, getting ready to demand a vote.
He stared over and over at his phone, talking to no one.
Then
the vote was called and Massie sought recognition. “Mr. Speaker, I came here to
make sure our republic doesn’t die by unanimous consent in an empty chamber,
and I request a recorded vote.”
Massie’s
request was denied as members asked to stand up to back him up remained seated.
He asked for a quorum call; a quorum was deemed present.
After
Rep. Anthony brown gaveled the vote shut, cheers erupted on both sides.
House
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy elbow bumped a top leadership aid who’d counted
numbers in his head. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) walked across the aisle and
elbow bumped Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). A few curses seemed to
be hurled from rank-and-file members on both sides.
And
Massie walked to the back of the chamber, on the center aisle, talking to some
of his most conservative allies, such as Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.), none of
whom backed him up.
The
House will now recess for weeks, at least.
Meanwhile,
though, the fear in the room could be seen.
Several
members wore surgical gloves. Others went to great lengths to place themselves
far away from others. Some held their hand over their face as they passed other
lawmakers or staff.
Senior
aides walked around the room prepping lawmakers for the tricky vote, waving
their arms in a downward motion reminding those in the gallery above to stay
seated when Massie asked for his vote.
To
ensure they had at least 216, senior aides in both parties did the least
technological count possible - pacing the room and counting off in their head
how many were on hand.
PHOTOGRAPH
-- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) speaks to reporters at the Capitol after he
blocked a unanimous consent vote on a long-awaited $19 billion disaster aid
bill in the Chamber in May 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
MANY
WERE FURIOUS AT MASSIE.
“It’s
an act of vanity and selfishness that goes beyond comprehension,” said Rep. Dan
Kildee (D-Mich.), saying Massie was putting people’s health at risk and forcing
the House to model poor public health procedures. “He should be ashamed of
himself and the country should scorn him.”
“...&
costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive.
Virus wasn’t their fault. It is “HELL” dealing with the Dems, had to give up
some stupid things in order to get the “big picture” done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK
HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!”
—
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020
Some
New Yorkers returned to Washington even though the federal government has said
people from that state should quarantine for 14 days after leaving.
“Heading
to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of
Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back
to vote in House. Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed.
Disgraceful. Irresponsible.”
—
Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) March 27, 2020
“Flying
back to DC to vote for the stimulus bill. It could pass on a voice vote but
some members want to make a statement by potentially asking for an in-person
vote. Not all my colleagues can go back for health reasons. So, I’m doing it
for them & for my constituents. pic.twitter.com/FytRLD2laZ”
—
Jimmy Gomez (@JimmyGomezCA) March 27, 2020
Many
members were not happy about needing to come back to the tight quarters of the
Capitol. Two members have tested positive for covid-19, the disease caused
by the coronavirus, and a number of others were quarantined after showing
symptoms or coming into contact with potentially infected individuals.
Rep.
Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) wrote on Twitter that "Heading to the airport
now to vote in DC. am going just like every person that picks our food,
works at a hospital, picks up the garbage."
He
wrote that he was returning to Washington “because it is my [expletive] job.
But I get a comfortable salary, our essential workers should get same.”
As
some members boarded red-eyes or early flights, others were making long drives.
“Tomorrow
the House is expected to vote on a sweeping coronavirus relief package to
help hard-working families, small businesses, & medical professionals on
the frontlines. Driving is a safer alternative than flying, so I'm on the
road to make sure Rhode Islanders are represented. pic.twitter.com/GrvZyXVVdJ”
—
Jim Langevin (@JimLangevin) March 27, 2020
The
House Sergeant at Arms set out strict procedures for Friday’s proceedings in
the House, including urging members and staff to maintain a six-foot
distance from one another and limiting access to the House Chamber to those
scheduled to speak at any given time. Members were urged to use the
stairs instead of elevators, which at normal times are stuffed with
lawmakers rubbing shoulders with one another. The Speaker’s Lobby, the area
off the floor where reporters gather in crowds to interview lawmakers, will be
shut.
The
developments Friday were just the latest twist for a bill that underwent a week
of contentious negotiations in the Senate before ultimately passing 96-0 on
Wednesday night.
The
bill contains multiple provisions aimed at propping up an economy shuddering
from the impacts of the coronavirus, which has sent jobless claims
skyrocketing and the stock market plummeting as many Americans stay in their
homes to avoid contracting or spreading covid-19.
More
than 150 million households would receive checks under the legislation,
which will send payments of $1,200 to many individual Americans plus $500 for
children. People with incomes above $99,000 are not eligible, and the total
benefit is phased out for people earning between $75,000 and $99,000.
The
bill includes almost $400 billion to help small businesses retain their
payrolls and $250 billion to boost unemployment insurance, offering $600 per
week for four months for laid-off workers, on top of whatever benefits their
states may provide.
The
dealmaker’s dealmaker: Mnuchin steps in as Trump’s negotiator, but president’s
doubts linger with economy in crisis
It
contains hundreds of billions of dollars in emergency federal aid for large
corporations suffering due to the coronavirus outbreak, a provision that
sparked days of intense partisan conflict and a frenzied push from lobbyists
and corporations eager to secure a chunk of the funding.
The
final legislation will provide $25 billion in grants and $25 billion in
loans to passenger airlines; $17 billion in loans to industries deemed critical
to “national security” — a provision aimed at helping Boeing — and $425 billion
in loans and loan guarantees for other large firms, a fund for which cities and
states can also apply.
Trump
touted the legislation in an interview Thursday night with Sean Hannity on Fox
News.
“The
workers are going to get $3,000 for a family of four. They’re going to get all
sorts of things that they, frankly, in many cases, they wouldn’t have even
gotten if they had the job, if they didn’t have to go through this hell. And
it’s — it’s a wonderful thing,” Trump said.
The
president went on to say “A lot of this money is going to save Boeing. It’s
going to save the airline industry. And, you know, that means not only does it
mean what it says, it also means tremendous jobs. We can’t let Boeing go. You
know, Boeing had a problem, big one to start off with, and on top of it, this
happened. And we’ll save Boeing and we’ll save the airlines and we’ll save
other companies.”
The
conditions on the large pool of funding became a major sticking point
through congressional negotiations. Democrats won some concessions but not
others. In the final bill, businesses receiving the loan cannot cut their
employment levels by more than 10 percent until Sept. 30. They have some
restrictions on executive compensation above $425,000 annually and cannot issue
stock buybacks, a limitation supported by Trump.
Included
are measures ensuring swift disclosure of funding recipients, as well as an
oversight board to probe the Treasury’s decisions. The president, vice
president, members of Congress and members of the cabinet are also
prohibited from benefiting from the aid — a measure that also applies to their
spouses and children. The direct grant funding for the airlines also has
strict limitations and is required to go directly to workers or their
benefits.
As
Massie sat in the Chamber on Friday, one lawmaker after another, Republican and
Democrat, stood up to insist the severity of the crisis required immediate
action.
“Congress
must act aggressively and work together now,” said Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas).
Two
podiums were set up for speakers during debate, with a hand sanitizer bottle
under the podium and a canister of disinfectant wipes on the chair next to the
podium. When each speaker finished, he or she took their turn wiping down the
podium and the microphone from which they were speaking, before giving way to
the next speaker.
With
tensions running high, there was an uproar at one point as Rep. Haley Stevens
(D-Mich.), tried to speak over her allotted time, wearing pink latex gloves and
gesturing in animation as she asked for more time to thank medical
professionals at the frontline of the crisis.”
“I
rise before you donning these latex gloves not for personal attention, not for
personal attention, but to encourage you to take this disease seriously,”
Stevens shouted as she was gaveled out of order. “I rise for every American who
is scared right now.”
Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), from the epicenter of the health crisis in
Queens, rose to denounce the bill and the choice lawmakers are being forced to
make faced with legislation that she said creates a corporate bailout while
also provided needed funds to hospitals and front-line workers.
“Our
community’s reality is this country’s future if we don’t do anything.
Hospital workers don’t have the necessary equipment,” she said, calling it
“shameful, and the option that we have is either to let them suffer with
nothing or allow this greed.”
John
Wagner contributed to this report.
MORE
FROM THE WASHINGTON POST:
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Updated
March 27, 2020
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