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Congress – December 17, 2020

TrueNewsBlog-TNB

By: Nathaniel Ballantyne 

(TrueNewsBlog) – The government shuts down Friday, and we haven’t seen a word of the $1 trillion-plus in government spending and nearly $1 trillion in Covid relief. Both of these items will likely get a vote in the next few days, well maybe. 

The two sides are still haggling over the wording of policies and the structures of programs.  Republicans launched a fight over a pot of FEMA money meant to help pay for Covid-related disasters. The GOP said it was a backdoor way to get money to states, and Democrats shot back that they were cold-hearted dopes who were trying to find things to fight about. Republicans said Democrats kept “moving the goalposts” on policies that were long settled. Democrats, quite obviously, disagreed. This type of back and forth this late in negotiations is actually quite standard. 

SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, Washington’s Most Eager Man Treasury Secretary STEVEN MNUCHIN and Senate Minority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER spoke around 10:30 on Wednesday night, according to DREW HAMMILL, PELOSI’S deputy chief of staff. “All three emphasized the urgency to reaching an immediate agreement and will exchange additional paper and resume conversations in the morning.”

THERE IS A LOT of optimism here. PELOSI said upon leaving the Capitol, “I think we’re in good shape but a lot of writing goes into it.” Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL said “we’re still close and we’re going to get there.” Of course, nothing’s done until it’s done. Will we get the Covid money before end of this year?