Schumer to Senate Democrats this morning following Manchin’s opposition to BBB:”Senate will,in fact,consider the Build Back Better Act,very early in the new yr so every Mbr of this body has the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor,not just on television.”
Schumer: “We are going to vote on a revised version of the House-passed Build Back Better Act – and we will keep voting on it until we get something done.”
Schumer on voting rights: “Shortly after the 117th Congress resumes in January, the Senate will consider voting rights legislation, as early as the first week back.”
Schumer: “If the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, then how can we in good conscience allow for a situation in which the Republican Party can debate & pass voter suppression laws at State level w/only a simple majority vote,but not allow Senate to do the same?”
Schumer: “If Senate Republicans continue to abuse the filibuster and prevent the body from considering this bill, the Senate will then consider changes to any rules which prevent us from debating and reaching final conclusion on important legislation.”
Schumer on plans for Senate vote on voting rights & changing the filibuster: “Therefore, as with the BBB, Members will be given the chance to debate on the Senate floor and cast a vote so that their choice on this matter is clear and available for everyone to see.”
Schumer concludes his letter to Senate Democrats by announcing that tomorrow night “to further discuss these critical issues, we will hold a virtual Special Caucus on the evening of Tuesday, December 21, the longest night of the year.”
Schumer mentions Manchin by name only once in his letter to Senate Democrats following the WV Senator’s announcement yesterday to oppose BBB: “This session has also led to moments of deep discontent and frustration.”
Schumer on Manchin: “That frustration was evident in the past week as nearly all of us were disappointed by the decision to delay floor consideration of the Build Back Better Act because Senator Manchin could not come to an agreement with the president.”
Schumer in letter to Senate Democrats day after Manchin announced he’ll oppose BBB: “However, neither that delay, nor other recent pronouncements, will deter us from continuing to try to find a way forward. We simply cannot give up.”
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3rd term Central #FL07 Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, co-chair of the centrist Blue Dog Democrats' Coalition, annonces she won't seek re-election to the House next year.
Pelosi: "Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy is a valued Member of Congress, whose leadership has advanced jobs, security and opportunity in her district, for Florida and across the nation."
Pelosi on Murphy: "As an immigrant and the first Vietnamese-American woman to serve in the Congress, she has been an inspiration to young women in America."
President Biden: “Jill and I and the entire Biden family are saddened to learn of the passing of Johnny Isakson, the distinguished former United States Representative and Senator from Georgia.”
Biden: “Senator Isakson was a colleague and a friend. We served together on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled together, and found common ground built on mutual respect for each other and the institutions that govern our nation.”
Biden: “Johnny was a proud Republican, but he put country before party, and valued building consensus over political combat. I always loved Johnny’s description of the only division he saw as between “friends and future friends.”
McConnell: “Elaine and I are extremely sad to learn of the passing of our dear friend Johnny Isakson. Johnny was one of my very best friends in the Senate. But the amazing thing about him was that at any given time, approximately 98 other Senators felt the same way.”
McConnell: “His infectious warmth and charisma, his generosity, and his integrity made Johnny one of the most admired and beloved people in the Capitol.”
West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announces his opposition to President Biden’s BBB plan: “Despite my best efforts, I cannot explain the sweeping Build Back Better Act in West Virginia and I cannot vote to move forward on this mammoth piece of legislation.”
Manchin (D-WV) on BBB: "My Democratic colleagues in Washington are determined to dramatically reshape our society in a way that leaves our country even more vulnerable to the threats we face."
Manchin (D-WV) on BBB: "I cannot take that risk with a staggering debt of more than $29 trillion and inflation taxes that are real and harmful to every hard-working American at the gasoline pumps, grocery stores and utility bills with no end in sight."
Good news Friday: House during its pro forma session this morning received a message the Senate passed the short-term CR last night to avert a gov't shutdown at midnight tonight.Speaker Pelosi will sign the bill at an enrollment ceremony shortly before sending to President Biden.
Speaker Pelosi at US Capitol signed short-term gov't funding thru Feb 18 at bill enrollment ceremony w/Maj Ldr Hoyer,Approps Chair DeLauro & other Democratic lawmakers present,before sending it to President Biden ahead tonight's midnight shutdown deadline.
Thursday 9:25pm ET: Senate approves 11-week funding bill through February 18, 2022 to avert a gov't shutdown tomorrow at midnight, 69-28. Sixty votes were needed. CR passed the House 221-212 and now heads to President Biden.
Schumer from Senate floor following Senate passage of the 11-week CR 69-28: "I'm happy to let the American people know that government remains open."
19 Senate Republicans voted Yes on CR with all Democrats to avert a gov't shutdown
Blunt-MO
Burr-NC
Capito-WV
Cassidy-LA
Collins-ME
Cornyn-TX
Graham-SC
Hyde-Smith-MS
Kennedy-LA
McConnell-KY
Moran-KS
Murkowski-AK
Portman-OH
Rounds-SD
Rubio-FL
Shelby-AL
Tillis-NC
Wicker-MS
Young-IN