- LOWER PRICETAG possibly: GOP sources tell me it has a lower price tag, now $300 billion, b/c they added offsets. ($600 billion w/ $300 billion in offsets.)
- But need to see if this is real $.
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SENATE GOP COVID PLAN.
As we've expected:
- Would increase unemployment benefits $300/wk per person thru end of year.
- And add new round of PPP for small businesses. Funding for about two months of expenses. For businesses with 300 or fewer workers.
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SENATE GOP COVID PLAN. I'm also told:
- Postal service: $10 billion
- Child care: $10 billion
- A short-term, maybe two-year tax credit for those who give to private or religious schools for scholarships (Ted Cruz plan)
- Testing, tracing money.
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SENATE GOP COVID PLAN.
- It does look like this may have majority support among Sen. GOP, a needle that was not easy to thread.
- Vote expected Thursday.
- But it needs 60 votes to advance, and that is NOT expected... w/ no change, it likely fails there.
4/
What is happening now? Leader Schumer raised a point of order that the impeachment articles themselves are unconstitutional - that they do not rise "high crimes or misdemeanors".
Senate is voting on that. No debate is warranted for this point of order in impeachment court.
Staff and senators are now huddling, seemingly to discuss the procedural mechanics, maybe options here. Note that Leader McConnell's staff is huddling with conservatives as McConnell listens from just outside the circle.
Prior to this interlude, Schumer offered Republicans the chance to vote on the trial structure and have debate.
- That would have teed up resolutions from Sens. Lee and Cruz.
- And allowed for likely 3 hours of debate altogether.
- But Sen. Schmitt objected.
- And here we are.
NEWS here. @SpeakerJohnsontext to House members:
"the House Rules Committee will be posting soon today the text of three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine, including a loan structure for aid..."
That is a main headline. Here is the full text sent by @speakerjohnson:
"After significant Member feedback and discussion, the House Rules Committee will be posting soon today the text of three bills that will fund America’s national security interests and allies ...
@SpeakerJohnson "... allies in Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine, including a loan structure for aid, and enhanced strategy and accountability.
These will be brought to the floor under a structured rule that will allow for an amendment process..."
New and newsy letter now out from @SenSchumer. Many bottom lines:
- Baltimore: The WH sent over a authorization request this morning for the bridge and port. That will need bipartisan support to move.
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@SenSchumer - Ukraine aid: Waiting on Speaker Johnson. "Speaker Johnson has to ultimately decide for himself whether or not he will do the right thing for Ukraine ... if he’ll allow the extreme MAGA wing of his party to hand Vladimir Putin a victory"
- Israel: Is NOT mentioned.
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- (Schumer does push the Senate-passed security bill, which includes Israel funding.)
- FISA. Also, waiting on Speaker Johnson and the House. W/ clock ticking to wiretap program ended April 19.
- Pinnable quote: "The House is working on a path forward for their legislation."
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NEW: House has released another 5,000 hours of footage from J6. The prev. release was what Tucker Carlson got plus some cameras far from central areas.
Not sure yet what is in here - looking. And you can too! Reply with anything interesting.