1) The Senate has still not produced bill text. There are some drafting issues and disputes over what certain language means. Thus, the reason why the Senate hasn’t voted.
2) Consider the fact that there are likely to be lots of drafting issues when composing a bill of this scope, size and magnitude – and doing it on the fly.
3) Once the Senate gets final text, they will circulate the measure to senators. Then, the Senate will set up an agreement for debate and a vote. It’s still possible the Senate could even approve this measure via unanimous consent. That’s where no one inside the chamber objects.
4) That is the most efficient fashion of passing the bill. And frankly, the most hygienic. It keeps senators from clustering in the Senate chamber.
However…
Once there is an agreement, things around here will move FAST. I mean REALLY FAST.
However…
Once there is an agreement, things around here will move FAST. I mean REALLY FAST.
5) We still think they are at least a few hours away from a vote. That COULD mean the vote is an evening project.
6) The House isn’t going to entertain the bill until tomorrow at the earliest. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) wrote to all House members, declaring “I remain committed to giving House members 24 hours notice before the House acts.”
7) The House met briefly this morning for a short session and gaveled out immediately. This may seem counterintuitive. But stretching this out in the House COULD save time in the long run.
8) Look at this way:
The Senate doesn’t even have the final product yet nor has voted yet. So, there’s no reason for the House to start setting up things to vote right away. That could do more harm than good if the House wants to move fast.
The Senate doesn’t even have the final product yet nor has voted yet. So, there’s no reason for the House to start setting up things to vote right away. That could do more harm than good if the House wants to move fast.
9) House leaders on both sides of the aisle will take time to walk their respective members through the legislation to make sure that there is buy-in. House Republicans have already signaled lots of support for the bill – now bragging that they beat back provisions from Pelosi
10) And, many priorities important to House Democrats are already in the legislation. Schumer negotiated with Mnuchin at length. Part of Schumer’s negotiating was on behalf of Pelosi. That will make it easier for Pelosi to sell the plan to her caucus.
11) But, the Senate will either approve this measure overwhelmingly or by unanimous consent. That will send a strong, strong signal to the House that the bill is “ok” for members to support it on both sides of the aisle.
12) Remember the old Life Cereal commercials where none of the kids would eat it until “Mikey” tried it? Once Mikey ate it, all of the other kids jumped in. Congress works in a similar fashion. Once one body passes a bill, that legislation is much more palatable to the other
13) So, we don’t think the House tackles this until tomorrow night at the earliest – if not Friday.
It is unlikely that they conduct a regular roll call vote where they bring all 430 current members back to the chamber to vote. There are a lot of worries about health risks.
It is unlikely that they conduct a regular roll call vote where they bring all 430 current members back to the chamber to vote. There are a lot of worries about health risks.
14) There are three ways both the House and Senate approve bills, resolutions and amendments:
1)A regular roll call vote
2)A voice vote
3)Unanimous consent
None of these methods are strange or weird. They approve and defeat stuff all the time via all three methods.
1)A regular roll call vote
2)A voice vote
3)Unanimous consent
None of these methods are strange or weird. They approve and defeat stuff all the time via all three methods.
15) But the question is whether the House and Senate should vote on arguably the biggest bill in American history without a regular roll call vote.
16) Fox is told they are leaning toward approving the bill via voice vote. That’s where everyone in the chamber (probably a smaller group) shouts aye and those apposed nay. The loudest side wins.
17) There is also consternation about just how long this is taking. Consider the fact that McConnell introduced the original version of this bill during the middle of last week. The bicameral legislative process involving up to 535 people was not designed for speed.
18) What you are witnessing here is Congress moving as fast as it can: drafting a massive bill. Getting triple sign off from the Democratically controlled House, the Republican controlled Senate and the Republican controlled White House.
19) Let’s say the Senate ok's the coronavirus bill today. And the House moves Thursday or Friday. To turn legislation this size around in a week and a half constitutes an utterly Herculean task.
