Why are the democrats in congress holding up the corona virus relief bill? What is their problem? People and hospitals need this money now not later.
Senate showdown over pandemic relief stalls as Pelosi preps Democratic bill
The Senate's second attempt to advance a massive $2 trillion bill to provide economic relief amid the
COVID-19 pandemic failed Monday afternoon, demonstrating an inability to strike a bipartisan agreement on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
The vote failed 49-46, falling well short of the 60 votes needed to advance to debate on the bill, which represents the third phase of congressional aid to respond to the crisis.
After the vote, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell warned that the Senate might not be able to pass a bill until Friday or Saturday, blasting Democrats for "mindless obstruction."
"While the public is waiting for us to act, while people losing their jobs, losing their income and shutting down the economy which we've had to do to deal with this public health crisis, they're fiddling around with Senate procedure that could, if one senator objected, take us all the way to the end of the week to solve this problem," McConnell fumed. "The American people have had just enough of this nonsense. They wonder where we are. They're looking to us to solve this problem!"
Prior to the vote, Republicans complained Democrats have turned negotiations into a “leftwing episode of Supermarket Sweep.”
McConnell called the GOP proposal a “compromise package” that would provide tens of billions of dollars to hospitals, provide checks to millions of families, prevent layoffs and provide “historic relief” to small businesses.
“Why are Democrats filibustering the bipartisan bill they helped write?” McConnell wondered, ticking through a “Democratic wish list” that he said was preventing an agreement, including tax credits for solar energy and wind energy provisions to force employers to give “special new treatment for big labor,” and new emissions standards for airlines.
“Are you kidding me? This is the moment to debate new regulations that have nothing whatsoever to do whatsoever with this crisis? That’s what they’re up to over there. The American people need to know it,” McConnell, R-Ky., said. “Democrats won’t let us fund hospitals or save small businesses unless they get to dust off the Green New Deal.”
“They ought to be embarrassed,” he said. “This is not a juicy political opportunity, this is a national emergency.”
