Trump’s call last night to amend the COVID relief bill so that Americans get $2,000 has apparently thrown a wrench into the process:
Trump’s call to amend relief package is implausible, per lawmakers and aides. There’s no way Congress can renegotiate a carefully crafted deal that passed both chambers with veto-proof majorities and was a product of intense talks with his team. Hope on Hill is he doesn’t veto
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 23, 2020
Trump didn’t actually threaten to veto the bill, but that was his implicit suggestion based on his demand to amend the bill.
Manu Raju says lawmakers refuse to renegotiate the bill but socialists Rashida Tlaib and AOC are on Trump’s side, saying they are ready to go with the amendment:
Me and @AOC have the amendment ready. Send the bill back, and we will put in the $2,000 we’ve been fighting for that your party has been blocking. pic.twitter.com/GGXtJt77D9
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) December 23, 2020
And according to Chad Pergram, House Democrats will try to pass this (or something like it) tomorrow via unanimous consent:
1) House Democrats will try to approve $2,000 stimulus checks via unanimous consent on House floor on Christmas Eve Day, daring GOPers to object.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 23, 2020
2) This would come during the pro forma session scheduled for Christmas Eve Day. Democrats will dare GOPers to obect..if any are there. Entire process will take 30 seconds.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 23, 2020
3) All it takes is one GOPer to object
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 23, 2020
Even if they did that and no one objected, the Senate would then have to approve it as well and given how they torpedoed Josh Hawley’s efforts to send people $1200 checks, I don’t see that happening.
Lastly, some are suggesting that Trump could use a pocket veto to torpedo this entire bill and make them start from scratch in a new legislative session. I don’t think that’s the case, assuming Pelosi waits to adjourn the Congress until the last possible day, which is January 3rd. Trump can only hold the bill for ten days, which does not count Sundays. Assuming he received the bill on his desk yesterday, then the last possible day he can hold it is until January 1st, New Year’s day. If he vetoes it then, lawmakers can come back on the 2nd and override the veto, assuming they have the numbers to do that.
If Pelosi adjourns Congress before the 3rd, then it’s possible Trump could use a pocket veto. But I doubt that will happen.
UPDATE: From Lindsey…
Appreciate the fact that Speaker Pelosi supports President @realDonaldTrump's idea to increase direct payments to $2,000 per person.
The American people are hurting and deserve relief. I know there is much bipartisan support for this idea.
Let’s go further.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 23, 2020
I hope Speaker Pelosi will agree with President Trump that Big Tech needs to be reined in by winding down Section 230 liability protections.
I have reason to believe this combination will lead to President Trump supporting the NDAA and COVID19 omnibus bills.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 23, 2020
Let’s go big for the American people.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 23, 2020