Pirate's Cove

Will the Senate Democrats scuttle this one after agreeing to it?

White House, Senate strike deal on historic $2T coronavirus relief bill, but House support remains uncertain

White House and Senate leaders reached a historic deal shortly after midnight Wednesday on a massive $2 trillion coronavirus relief package for workers and businesses, although support in the House of Representatives remained uncertain as one member openly criticized the plan.

The bipartisan breakthrough in the Senate capped days of heated negotiations that had nearly been derailed by last-minute demands from House Democrats.

“Ladies and gentleman, we are done,” White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland announced as he left the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., near midnight. “We have a deal.”

Ueland told reporters that “much of the work on bill text has been completed, and I’m hopeful over the next few hours we’ll finish what’s left and we will circulate it early in the morning.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the bill amounts to “unemployment compensation on steroids,” and that every American who is laid off will have their missed salary remunerated. That provision will enable companies to stay afloat and immediately bring back those employees when things are safe‬, Schumer said.

The unprecedented economic rescue package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.

So, basically not much different than the previous one they negotiated. Will Democrats allow the procedural vote to begin debate, unlike last time, then go for a vote for passage?

In a letter to his colleagues, Schumer remarked, “Democrats are ready to give our unanimous consent to speed up the consideration of the bill and get the job done.“ That means that if there are no objections from Republicans, the Senate could clear the bill without a formal roll call vote. Parliamentarily, that is the fastest way to move something on the floor.

They’re looking to have a vote on it sometime today, which then begs the question “how long till the relief comes?”

Another massive question is, what happens in the House? Does Nancy Pelosi put aside her progressive wish-list which is mostly about unrelated issues and have the House vote for it? Or will she scuttle it? If she takes it up, does she dicker around with it or bring it right to the House floor for a vote? Does she discuss and allow resolutions from her fellow leftists, adding all sorts of things which would mean it would crash during the second Senate vote?

Meanwhile, one of the leading Democrat voices, the NY Times editorial board (and the rest of the paper), which has whined about Trump being an authoritarian wants Trump to be authoritarian

Coronavirus Is Advancing. All Americans Need to Shelter in Place.

President Trump needs to call for a two-week shelter-in-place order, now, as part of a coherent national strategy for the coronavirus to protect Americans and their livelihoods.

Once he does, and governors follow his request, there will be time to debate how soon some controls might be lifted, or how soon certain people, like those under a particular age, might be free to resume something like normal life. (snip)

We are not suggesting that Mr. Trump has the authority to order a national lockdown, much less advocating that he attempt to enforce one. Instead, we are urging him to use the bully pulpit to put pressure on, and provide political cover for, governors to take the hard steps that are needed.

LOL. Nice cop out. Anyhow, maybe it’s time for people to go back to work. We didn’t have this problem with SARS, when more people died, and people need to work.

BTW, two tricks: first, if you need bread, go to a Walmart supercenter or a store that bakes and check the fresh baked area. You have to eat it in a few days, otherwise it gets moldy, because it doesn’t have all the preservatives. Second, check the area with all the tiny things you buy for vacations, and look for baby wipes. You can get little packs, and, if they’re good enough for baby’s butts, they can kill off anything.