$2 trillion coronavirus aid package stalls in U.S. Senate

By David Morgan and Andy Sullivan

 

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin walks to the meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (not pictured) during negotiations on a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relief package on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A far-reaching coronavirus economic stimulus package failed to advance in the U.S. Senate on Monday as Democrats said it contained too little money for states and hospitals and not enough restrictions on a fund to help big businesses.

 

The 49-46 vote left the $2 trillion (£1.74 trillion) measure short of the 60 votes needed to advance, as the chamber remained deadlocked for a second day. Only one Democrat, Doug Jones of Alabama, voted with Republicans to advance the bill.

 

Congress has already passed some legislation to blunt the economic toll of the pandemic that has killed at least 506 people in the United States and sickened more than 43,000, leading state governors to order nearly a third of the nation's population to stay at home and threatening to throw millions out of work.

 

Tempers frayed as Republicans accused Democrats of obstruction during a national emergency.

 

"The country is burning and your side wants to play political games," said Republican Senator John Thune, who angrily accused Democrats of "dilly-dallying around."

 

Democrats said they were close to an agreement with Republicans, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer saying a modified version could pass on Monday. But they insisted that it needed to include more oversight provisions for a $500 billion fund for large businesses.

 

"Take a deep breath. We're gonna pass this bill," Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said.

 

 

'HIP-DEEP NEGOTIATING'

After the vote, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the Trump administration's point person on coronavirus legislation, shuttled in and out of Schumer's office.

 

"His folks are hip-deep negotiating with Mnuchin, which is a good sign," Democratic Senator Chris Coons said.

 

President Donald Trump's administration last week launched a major push for action to blunt the market slide caused by the pandemic, after Trump himself spent several weeks dismissing the virus' risks.

 

The Senate measure includes financial aid for ordinary Americans, small businesses and critically affected industries, including airlines.

 

Republicans said Democrats were seeking to add unrelated provisions, such as expanded tax credits for wind and solar power and increased leverage for labor unions.

 

Democrats said Republicans were also trying to add provisions that would exclude nonprofit groups from receiving small-business aid, and extend a sexual abstinence-education program that is due to expire in May.

 

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, released her own version, which would add billions of dollars to help states conduct elections by mail.

 

Republicans normally hold a slim 53-47 majority in the chamber, short of the 60 votes they need to advance most legislation.

 

But the coronavirus threat has affected their ranks. Republican Senator Rand Paul said he tested positive for the virus on Sunday, and several others have self-quarantined as a precautionary measure. Republicans only mustered 47 votes in Sunday's procedural vote.

 

Paul's decision to keep circulating on Capitol Hill after getting tested, including an alleged visit to the Senate gym, drew widespread criticism and prompted several other Republicans to self-quarantine as a precautionary measure.

 

Paul said he would not even know that he had contracted the disease if he had not ignored recommendations and sought testing. "The broader the testing and the less finger-pointing we have, the better," he said in a statement.

 

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said her husband John contracted pneumonia and coughed up blood after contracting the disease. She said she is not at risk because she has not seen him in person for two weeks.

 

(Reporting by David Morgan and Andy Sullivan; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone, Will Dunham and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-24

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And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

 The foxes are in the Chicken coop!!!

Trump is trying to sneak in a 500 billion slush fund (thats 1/2 a trillion dollars) , the fund will come under the control of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who will distribute to industry as he sees fit. and under the present language he does not need to disclose who is getting it for six months. This 1/2 trillion dollars will be borrowed bu the US and our children will have to pay it. 

“We're not here to create a slush fund for Donald Trump and his family, or a slush fund for the Treasury Department to be able to hand out to their friends,” railed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), "

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/democrats-slush-fund-republican-rescue-package-143565

47 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

Ahhhh noooo they are holding it up so the swamp critters can’t obscond with it you know the airlines the hotels and big corporations trying  get another handout at the taxpayers expense they are trying to get the funds to the working folks

Oh, I thought Trump and  his bunch  were all good, honest politicians..

  Those nasty Dems  are supposed to be all bad.  American politics at its

finest. Will the people who actually need the money ever get it, or just

 the corporations who are greedy?

Geezer

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

Say the people for who universal health care is anathema. 

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

No, it's actually the exact opposite of what you say.

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

‘Pet pork projects’ you say.

 

I say hogwash.

 

Trump and the GOP are trying to get their hands on a $500Billion slush fund under direct control of the executive and the power to keep how that is distributed secret for six months.

 

Come on Boon Mee, or any other of Trump’s apologists, defend this if you can do so.

 

 

Edited March 24, 20206 yr by Chomper Higgot

It's bad reporting, no matter your political stripes.  Where are the details of the controversial provisions, what do they actually say?

"Republicans said Democrats were seeking to add unrelated provisions, such as expanded tax credits for wind and solar power and increased leverage for labor unions.

 

Democrats said Republicans were also trying to add provisions that would exclude nonprofit groups from receiving small-business aid, and extend a sexual abstinence-education program that is due to expire in May."

Why would any honest person require that how the funds are distributed kept a secret even for a single day?

 

Well, I forgot who is in charge of the US today

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

Oh really? So a blank cheque for $500 Billion for corporations without any oversight or reporting isn't "pet pork"?

before commenting, do you people know that a lot of that money is DEMANDED by very big companies ... a bit like the 2008 STEAL that banks did

 

it's not money going to the general public

    Good on the Democrats for fighting for money to go where it is needed most.  Anybody notice that AT&T just quietly cancelled its stock buyback for billions of dollars?  All these huge companies spending billions of dollars to buy back their stock and now crying poor.  Just too rich, as my Dad used to say.  

12 minutes ago, JCauto said:

Oh really? So a blank cheque for $500 Billion for corporations without any oversight or reporting isn't "pet pork"?

Not quite. 

 

It's a blank cheque for $500,000,000,000 from the public purse to be secretly  distributed by the Executive. 

 

Big business are getting their money from the other $1,500,000,000,000 of public money in this bill.

 

 

Hogs at the trough, business as usual.

If there is one thing the GOP knows how to do it is to keep its (collective) beak wet.

 

 

A lot of loose change, puts the defense budget of USD 738 billion in proportion; hence a minor headache for the taxpayer in defending the US borders to the Canadian North and the Mexican South! 

2 hours ago, Susco said:

Why would any honest person require that how the funds are distributed kept a secret even for a single day?

 

Well, I forgot who is in charge of the US today

Exactly!! Why would there be any reason at all to be hiding the purpose/s of FIVE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS for any amount of time whatsoever? Someone PLEASE provide a viable answer!

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

You've never been a big fan of facts Boon and your obsessive devotion to all things Trump regularly clouds your judgement but even you must see that keeping aside $500 billion to 'do with as they please with no oversight' is never going to wash with the Dems. And as for the other $1.5 trillion, most big business have been using recent profits for stock buy-back options (which only helps their top executives) leaving very little for a rainy day (and it's absolutely pouring now). Why should these greedy, self obsessed con men with no eye on future troubles (isn't that their job) now benefit from ordinary peoples taxes?

Well done to the Dems for putting up a fight and shame again to the GOP for trying to portray these people as un-American when the reality is they are trying to do more for the average American than any GOP member ever has or ever will.    

Some troll posts have been removed. 

8 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

And we know why it's stalled too, don't we? 

The Democrats consider their pet pork projects more important than the health of the citizens and the economy. 

So, you did not read the article citing both as adding to the Bill? Or you just want to ignore one side?

6 hours ago, samran said:

Say the people for who universal health care is anathema. 

We really do need to appreciate the irony. Opposed to a national healthcare program for the citizens like all other developed countries have?Oops ... OK, OK free national testing. No damned socialism!!! OK,OK ...send checks to citizens out of work.

2 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

We really do need to appreciate the irony. Opposed to a national healthcare program for the citizens like all other developed countries have?Oops ... OK, OK free national testing. No damned socialism!!! OK,OK ...send checks to citizens out of work.

Its only socialism if a democrat does it anyway...