Tag: economic relief legislation

President is wild card as shutdown fears grow

The Hill logo

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are wondering if they can trust President Trump to sign legislation to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown before the end of the year.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers say a government shutdown is not off the table and see Trump, who has refused to concede the election, as the main wild card.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday, said the president wants to keep the government funded. But he’s not ruling out the possibility of a year-end shutdown. Continue reading.

Congress set for showdown on coronavirus relief legislation

The Hill logoA fight over the next round of coronavirus aid is coming to a head as lawmakers prepare to race the clock to get a deal.

Congress faces multiple hurdles to getting an agreement including the growing pull of the November election, a tight schedule and significant policy differences.

Both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) say they think they’ll be able to get a deal, but leaders haven’t yet started negotiating and both sides have appeared skeptical of the other side’s key priorities.  Continue reading.

GOP faces internal conflicts on fifth coronavirus bill

The Hill logoRepublicans are increasingly saying they expect to pass a fifth coronavirus bill — just don’t ask them to agree, yet, on what should be in it.

While a growing number of GOP senators say they should move quickly, deep divisions remain within the caucus on everything from key policy provisions and timing to if another bill should be passed at all.

“I don’t think there’s a consensus yet on a path forward,” said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican. Continue reading.