U.S. House not returning next week, Trump says Democrats on 'vacation'

By Susan Cornwell and David Morgan

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is seen during the signing of H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program Healthcare Enhancement Act, an additional economic stimulus package that passed earlier in the week by the U.S. Senate, during a ceremony on Capitol Hill as the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak continues, in Washington, U.S., April 23, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives will not return to Washington next week as planned, due to the continuing risk of coronavirus infection, Democratic leaders said on Tuesday, a reversal of plans outlined only a day earlier.

 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the decision to keep the chamber on an extended recess after discussing the situation with the official House physician, as well as House members.

 

"The numbers (of coronavirus cases) in the District of Columbia are still going up," Hoyer told reporters. "The House physician's view was that there was a risk to members that was one he would not recommend taking."

 

With the Republican-run Senate returning to session next week, President Donald Trump, a Republican, accused the Democrat-led House of not wanting to work. "They're enjoying their vacation," he told reporters at the White House. "You look at Nancy Pelosi eating ice cream on late-night television."

 

Pelosi, who showed off a home freezer full of ice cream in a recent television interview, retorted that Trump had been in denial about the danger posed by the coronavirus.

 

"This president has presided over the worst disaster in our country's history, an assault on the lives and the livelihoods of the American people, and he did so by neglect of information, also denial and delay in accepting the facts," Pelosi told MSNBC.

 

"I have ice cream in my freezer; I guess that's better than having Lysol in somebody's lungs," she said, referring to a suggestion Trump made last week that coronavirus researchers try putting disinfectants into patients’ bodies.

 

The U.S. death toll from the virus on Tuesday reached 58,233, exceeding the 58,220 American lives lost during the Vietnam War, according to a Reuters tally.

 

Congress has not met in regular session since last month, though it has passed major coronavirus relief bills worth nearly $3 trillion, partly by using rules allowing bills to pass with just a small number of lawmakers present. Last week the full House met one day to approve the most recent, $484 billion coronavirus package.

 

Hoyer said the House intends to return to Washington soon to complete a new coronavirus response bill that Democrats have vowed to use as a vehicle for funneling hundreds of billions of dollars in assistance to state and local governments. He said he hoped House committees would be able to work remotely while the chamber is out.

 

In a separate call with reporters, Pelosi said it appeared $500 billion would be needed for states, and possibly "a very big figure also for counties and municipalities” as they grapple with the coronavirus. Lawmakers have already provided $150 billion to state and local governments in previous coronavirus legislation.

 

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned that state and local governments would see "massive" layoffs without more aid from Congress to keep police, firefighters, ambulance crews and other frontline workers on the job.

 

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News on Tuesday he was open to providing further aid to cities and states, but that any legislation would need to provide liability protections for businesses that are reopening.

 

McConnell also told Republican senators on Tuesday that he will not support spending on infrastructure in the next coronavirus relief bill, Axios reported. Trump has called for $2 trillion in infrastructure spending.

 

(Reporting by David Morgan, Susan Cornwell and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis, Richard Chang and Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-29

 

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6 minutes ago, webfact said:

"This president has presided over the worst disaster in our country's history, an assault on the lives and the livelihoods of the American people, and he did so by neglect of information, also denial and delay in accepting the facts," Pelosi told MSNBC.

This is typical Trump wanting to pass the buck , it was them not me .

this is not passing the buck, its true, democrats refuse to return to washington.  Spin it anyway you want what he says is true.

Just now, jimmyyy said:

Spin it anyway you want what he says is true.

" What he says is true"...............would have to be a first in over 3 years of lying, and that's the problem, a bit like the boy who cried, wolf!!

8 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

this is not passing the buck, its true, democrats refuse to return to washington.  Spin it anyway you want what he says is true.

No. It is true they're not returning, but I very much doubt "They're enjoying their vacation," is true.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"I have ice cream in my freezer; I guess that's better than having Lysol in somebody's lungs," she said, referring to a suggestion Trump made last week that coronavirus researchers try putting disinfectants into patients’ bodies.

Boom...walked into that one didn’t you trump. 

The media has made you hate someone you seem to know little about.  Either way i wish you well with this corona thing.  Have a great day.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

McConnell also told Republican senators on Tuesday that he will not support spending on infrastructure in the next coronavirus relief bill, Axios reported. Trump has called for $2 trillion in infrastructure spending.

Now that is interesting. 

It's true they have been 'on vacation' for 3 years. What have they achieved? farce after farce after farce. They need a decent candidate for 2024 as it will be their turn again and ego Trump will be gone. Enjoy the ice cream Nancy.

Trump says - that's enough,not need to read anymore!

Sign of resistance by McConnell. GOP feeling their senate seats in jeopardy and starting to grow a pair. Day of reckoning coming real soon. 

And the number 2 helps along the cause-not!

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52465172

8 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

The media has made you hate someone you seem to know little about.

In my case the media is not responsible for me absolutely loathing trump, it's what he is that I don't like: –
 

Have never liked liars, especially compulsive liars.

 

Have never liked crooks who would hire illegals for their projects and also steal from a charity.

 

Have never thought highly of anyone who would denigrate a war hero, nor of anyone who would utter the misogynistic rubbish that trump does.

 

Have never liked anyone who spouts off about being intelligent, but proves to be just the opposite with some absolute doozies emanating from his unconnected orifice.

 

Have never liked bullies and the way he treats some of the press folk and others show him to be one.

 

Have never liked lazy people and his laziness with regards to reading the briefings prepared for him have resulted in him missing the early Covid-19 warnings and putting folk in harms way.

 

Could probably think of a few more reasons, not to mention his boasting and the fact that everything has to be about him, but I find him an absolutely disgraceful excuse for a human being.
 

27 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Boom...walked into that one didn’t you trump. 

Come on, like the man(?) said, he was only being sarcastic, to wind up the "fake news" press! ????

 

I mean, a man as knowledgeable about epidemiology and other medical matters as him could hardly be serious now could he?

 

could he?

 

could he...

 

I mean the very idea is enough to turn one orange!

Oh come on guys...he hasn't left the WH in month (except for his rallies and to play Golf) and is working early morning until late at night, every day!

He is a war time- president, don't you know!

Cheers, Windex!

43 minutes ago, jimmyyy said:

The media has made you hate someone you seem to know little about.  Either way i wish you well with this corona thing.  Have a great day.

Sir he has earned it with interest 

1 hour ago, jimmyyy said:

The media has made you hate someone you seem to know little about.

Know very little about?? After having read about him and, more importantly, seen him talk (and talk, and talk, and talk) for more than three years I know all I need to form an opinion.

Sadly it's been abundantly clear from day one he's a despicable person with no mortals and even less talents. Him being the president is the very definition of someone being over his head - completely useless.

Come to think of it he's worse than useless, he's downright dangerous.

32 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Him being the president is the very definition of someone being over his head - completely useless.

I was just thinking this a few hours ago.  He's lost.  Always has been.  He's still playing The Apprentice, he's all about ratings.  He doesn't get this is a life and death crisis, but he knows he has Monday Night Football numbers.  Something wrong there.

 

What's with his air accordion schtick?  Joe Cocker played air guitar, but he would sing.

 

 

Dems gonna slow walk aid for Americans AGAIN in the future and use the crisis for absurd leverage. 

 

And the left will cheer it on like good little lemmings even though the crypt keeper nancy pelosi will be sitting in her MASSIVE mansion in front of her $25,000 twin refrigerators stocked by 'the help' like a good little limousine liberal. 

 

And it should infuriate every American that the only ones trying to get out of work and helping the country are the Democrats. 

28 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Dems gonna slow walk aid for Americans AGAIN in the future and use the crisis for absurd leverage. 

 

And the left will cheer it on like good little lemmings even though the crypt keeper nancy pelosi will be sitting in her MASSIVE mansion in front of her $25,000 twin refrigerators stocked by 'the help' like a good little limousine liberal. 

 

And it should infuriate every American that the only ones trying to get out of work and helping the country are the Democrats. 

".....trying to get out of work and helping the country are the Democrats." You seem to be confused, are you pro Dems??

 

I'll tell you what's infuriating; having a president who, with his every statement, clearly demonstrates he's completely and utterly unqualified for the job.

Edited April 29, 20206 yr by Phoenix Rising

30 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

".....trying to get out of work and helping the country are the Democrats." You seem to be confused, are you pro Dems??

 

I'll tell you what's infuriating; having a president who, with his every statement, clearly demonstrates he's completely and utterly unqualified for the job.

Why do you guys always deflect to trump when your own party is doing stupid sh*t? 
 

It’s a pathetic cop-out made by weak people with no morals. 

3 hours ago, jimmyyy said:

this is not passing the buck, its true, democrats refuse to return to washington.  Spin it anyway you want what he says is true.

quote from the OP ""The numbers (of coronavirus cases) in the District of Columbia are still going up," Hoyer told reporters. "The House physician's view was that there was a risk to members that was one he would not recommend taking."

 

Now who would you believe and trust?

 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and the House physician, or the liar in chief POTUS?

 

6 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Why do you guys always deflect to trump when your own party is doing stupid sh*t? 
 

It’s a pathetic cop-out made by weak people with no morals. 

Why I'm talking about Trump? Because his name appears in the title of the thread.

And name calling is against forum rules.

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

Dems gonna slow walk aid for Americans AGAIN in the future and use the crisis for absurd leverage. 

 

And the left will cheer it on like good little lemmings even though the crypt keeper nancy pelosi will be sitting in her MASSIVE mansion in front of her $25,000 twin refrigerators stocked by 'the help' like a good little limousine liberal. 

 

And it should infuriate every American that the only ones trying to get out of work and helping the country are the Democrats. 

Jealous of what Nancy Pelosi has and what position she holds?

 

The USA was the land of opportunity and the home of the free etc.

 

She has been in the House for 33 years working for the people of the US.

 

What have you achieved in the last 33 years to help the USA?

 

10 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Why do you guys always deflect to trump when your own party is doing stupid sh*t? 
 

It’s a pathetic cop-out made by weak people with no morals. 

33 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:
".....trying to get out of work and helping the country are the Democrats." You seem to be confused, are you pro Dems??

 

I'll tell you what's infuriating; having a president who, with his every statement, clearly demonstrates he's completely and utterly unqualified for the job.

 

What is sad about the second paragraph, is that it is the truth.

 

But what has Trump achieved for the USA in the last few years?

23 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

Why do you guys always deflect to trump when your own party is doing stupid sh*t? 
 

It’s a pathetic cop-out made by weak people with no morals. 

pot, kettle, black

26 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Just read all the forgoing posts, not one made the comment you've alleged - i.e. you're posting  misinformation

Are you suggesting that Noodle works for CNN?

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Remind me who is in power. Remind me how many bills congress has sent up and mitch refuses to table them.

 

Go on, try some facts.

 

Buddy, you would know a fact if it smacked you upside the head. Dems pushing highly partisan bills up to congress is sure to get them smoked, just like the dems do to republican bills in the house. 

 

Trump has nothing to do with any of the above situation. 

 

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

It is trumps fault. Did you forget he is setting the guidelines?

 

Trump, not Nancy, is setting the guidelines in the House? 

 

My what a short memory you have for being the arbiter of 'facts'

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

and just who ordered the lockdown of which you deride.

 

And who, on that very same day, put a bill up to STOP him from doing it? 

 

And who walked her geriatric self into Chinatown with cameras blazing to push for tourism and movement of people because trump banned Chinese nationals? 

 

Those pesky facts burn, don't they. 

3 minutes ago, Sujo said:

And just to add to his stupidity he says they will be doing 5 million tests per day very soon.

 

Oh what a bunch of covfefe.

 

Yea, but your side would have done better, right? Even though they outright said they didn't agree with it and even tried to block the travel ban and fought trump all the way up until it got serious, then flipped the narrative (which you people slurp up without missing a beat). 

 

But please, don't let the facts get in your way. You are doing so well just re-writing history. 

10 minutes ago, Sujo said:

It is trumps fault. Did you forget he is setting the guidelines?

 

And who was it that held up the PPP program for over a week intentionally to put the screws into the populace to get frivolous additions into an originally bipartisan 2-page extension bill. 

 

And who is it that's getting ready to do it again, judging by the OP.