Senate Republicans have been bashing @chuckschumer for a $1.5 million provision inside the "American Rescue Plan" to "build Chuck Schumer a bridge."
But there's more to it than that - of course - and it goes back to the Elaine Chao-run DOT.
/2 A document obtained by @punchbowlnews shows the funding request actually was made in the spring of 2020. The Seaway International Bridge across the St. Lawrence River is one of the busiest crossing points between the two countries.
/3 But the Covid pandemic has crushed traffic over the bridge. DOT estimates revenues collected from tolls for bridge crossings is down 10-15 percent, with truck traffic down significantly.
/4 The Seaway International Bridge Corp., the authority that operates the bridge, went back to the Canadian and American governments for more money. That's where the $1.5 million request came from, per the document.
/5 So the Senate Republicans are bashing Schumer over a funding request that came out of the DOT under Elaine Chao, who is - of course - married to @leadermcconnell.
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In his opening,Trump defense lawyer Bruce Castor denounces the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol & so those who committed crimes should be punished
/2 Castor is arguing that senators "are extraordinary people," it's clear that he's going to argue these "extraordinary people" are going to have to reject the passion of the moment in seeking to punish Trump.
/3 But Castor is taking forever to get where he’s going.....
.@LeaderHoyer - who has a security detail - laughingly admits he hasn’t been thru a metal detector “in a long time.” But he says, “It’s important for everyone to do it.”
/2 Members aren’t loving the metal detectors. They can’t seem to figure out metal - like a phone - sets off metal detectors. @laurenboebert, who has talked about carrying a gun, didn’t want anyone to look in her bag
/3 Am told another Republican tried to get on floor without been screened only to repeatedly stopped by Cap Police
NEW - 3 members who are still in Covid quarantine will be allowed to cast a today, per a statement from Brian Monohan. 2 Dems, 1 R. They will cast vote in special area in House gallery. This shows stakes of today’s Speaker vote. Members not named in statement
/2 I’m hearing Dems still iare NOT Gwen Moore or Rick Larsen, who tested positive but out of quarantine now
/3 @RodneyDavis, top R on the House Administration Cmte, is very upset about this “Popemobile” built in the House Gallery for quarantined members. He says the “only reason this is happening is because Speaker Pelosi needs to be re-elected speaker.” “It’s shameful.”
.@GOPLeader & @RodneyDavis say @SpeakerPelosi is preparing to institute full remote voting, a HUGE change for Congress: “Speaker Pelosi is once again attempting to consolidate power in the House of Representatives while rewarding members of her party for their compliance.”
/3 More McCarthy & Davis: “Chairperson Lofgren’s letter would pave the way for an expansion of the current proxy voting scheme into a fully-remote ‘vote by text’ operation that is unproven, unsecure, and unconstitutional.”