But Democrats said that’s what McConnell is doing. They say McConnell knew they wouldn’t accept his attempt to jam through his own priorities without negotiating with him.
“There are people of goodwill on both sides who want to solve problems and get this country back on its feet,” said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in an interview on Wednesday. ”I wish he wouldn’t use that approach of ‘take it or leave it.’ It just isn’t the right way to approach a crisis like this.”
But Republicans haven’t indicated that they will relent in their pursuit of small business aid now and a larger package later.
„Today’s unemployment numbers remind us that now is not the time for congressional horse trading or partisan politics,“ Rubio said, citing 6.6 million new unemployment claims reported on Thursday. “I really hope my Democratic colleagues will reconsider their decision to block more money for PPP.”
The battle echoes the conflict over the $2.2 trillion “Phase 3” coronavirus package in March, when McConnell brought a bill to the floor and dared Democrats to block it. They did, insisting on more oversight, and the two sides eventually came together.
But the immediate forecast for the next tranche of relief is unclear, and it’s certainly possible the Senate experiences a replay on Monday during the next pro forma session.
„I have no prediction on how this turns out,“ said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who presided over Thursday’s session. He was unsure whether McConnell would try the same move on Monday.
Any one senator can object to McConnell’s effort to pass legislation by unanimous consent. The Senate is not expected to take a roll-call vote until April 20 or perhaps even further into the calendar, leaving all action at the whims of 100 legislators.
And even if McConnell eventually succeeds, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said his effort wouldn’t move in the House anyway. The House is set to hold a pro forma session on Friday. Democrats also want some of the new small business aid earmarked for underbanked businesses.
“The bill that they put forth … will not get unanimous support in the caucus in the House. It just won’t,” Pelosi said.
Andrew Desiderio contributed to this report.
Source: politico.com
See more here: news365.stream
