with an assist from Heather Caygle and Kyle Cheney
SENATE STALEMATE — Congress is at an impasse over small business aid. As expected, Senate Democrats blocked an effort by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to fast-track a vote on legislation providing an extra $250 billion for a small business loans program, which was created by the last economic rescue package and is already on track to run out of money. Democrats are also pushing to include emergency funding for hospitals, states and local governments, but Republicans want to focus on the pots of money that are more immediately in danger of drying up.
So, now what? The Senate has adjourned and won’t be back until Monday. But during a Senate GOP conference call yesterday with Vice President Mike Pence, McConnell signaled that he hasn’t ruled out cutting a deal with Democrats, report Burgess and Heather. But if an agreement can’t be reached over the weekend, McConnell may bring up the bill again on Monday and once again dare Democrats to vote against it. All the latest: https://politi.co/2UVn0Us.
Other relief plans floating around … Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is introducing legislation this morning aimed at preventing mass layoffs by creating “a streamlined program to provide a three-month federal guarantee for 100 percent of worker salaries of up to $100,000 to ensure employers of all sizes keep workers on the payroll and continue to provide employer-sponsored benefits,” according to a press release … Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is calling for the federal government to pay 80 percent of workers’ wages until the crisis is over.
Related reads: “’Surprise’ billing fix could hitch ride on next coronavirus relief bill,” by Susannah Luthi: https://politi.co/2wtsWL3; and “Democrats ramp up talks with Mnuchin on next COVID-19 relief deal,” via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: https://bit.ly/34rBbUz.
AND ACROSS THE CAPITOL … Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there will not be any fireworks when the House convenes for a pro forma session today, telling Heather and Bres in a half hour interview last night that the negotiations on an interim relief package are essentially on hold over the holiday weekend. The speaker also gave her clearest indication yet that it’s unlikely the House returns around April 20 as congressional leaders were initially hoping. “I would never venture a guess. I certainly don’t think we should do it sooner than we should,” Pelosi said. “This has taken an acceleration from when we started this…Little did we know then that at this point, we’d be further confined.”
Pelosi also warned against President Donald Trump rushing to open the country too soon against the advice of health experts. Earlier Thursday, Trump had said he hoped to reopen the country “very, very, very, very soon.” Pelosi’s response: “I would hope that the scientific community would weigh in and say, ‘You can’t do this, it is only going to make matters worse if you go out too soon.’” The story: https://politi.co/2VhK7rn.
Other highlights from the interview:
— Pelosi doesn’t have time to watch Trump’s daily coronavirus briefings: “I just don’t have time for that, I am a busy person. I have a day job, and it’s not to watch the president contradict himself on TV.”
— The speaker isn’t ruling out coronavirus being the dominating issue at the ballot box in November: “That is the big question of everything. …This may have an impact in terms of eclipsing any messaging… [but] we will be having an agenda as we go forward that opens up opportunities for people.”
— She hasn’t spoken to Joe Biden yet since Sen. Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign. But that didn’t stop her from gushing about the former vice president: “I think he’s fabulous. He’s a person of great values, great patriotism …I think he’ll be a great nominee, and an even greater president of the United States.”
Related read: “For McConnell, virus carries echo of his boyhood polio,” from The AP’s Lisa Mascaro: https://bit.ly/2wqCVAK.
YOU’VE GOT MAIL — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called it “disgusting” that Democrats are trying to expand mail-in voting in the next coronavirus relief bill, dismissing the idea as unnecessary. With coronavirus cases soaring, the issue has become a new political flashpoint — particularly after the electoral mess in Wisconsin this week. “That’s disgusting to me,” McCarthy told reporters during a press call Thursday. “Stop worrying about politics. Worry about what’s in front of us. And that’s the health of the nation … and our economy.”
The fierce pushback from McCarthy comes on the heels of Trump urging Republicans to “fight very hard when it comes to statewide mail-in voting.” Trump — who has suggested the practice could undermine GOP political prospects — has also claimed that vote-by-mail is “corrupt.” Yet there is no evidence to suggest that voter fraud exists on a wide scale anywhere in the election system.
And Democrats argue that mail-in voting is a public health issue: The virus could spread even further if elections are carried out as usual this fall. “We want to remove all obstacles to participation,” Pelosi told reporters on her own call later Thursday. “No surprise that [McCarthy] might dismiss opening doors of participation as something that is a plus, especially in a time of pandemic.” The story from your Huddle host: https://politi.co/2VnFZ9w.
SPEAKING OF MAIL … Postmaster General Megan Brennan and other Postal Service officials are asking Congress for $75 billion more in aid to prevent a collapse of the massive mail-carrier bureaucracy by the fall. Brennan briefed members of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, indicating that the postal service is on track to run out of cash before the fiscal year expires on Sept. 30, fueled in part by a $13 billion loss in revenue attributed to coronavirus. That’s despite a $10 billion borrowing boost provided in the recently passed $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill.
Now, the Postal Service Board of governors is asking Congress for a $25 billion emergency appropriation, a $25 billion fund for postal service infrastructure modernization projects and an additional $25 billion in borrowing power from the Treasury. The Postal Service has been beset by financial woes for years, but it’s also an enormous employer, with 650,000 workers spread across 31,600 retail locations. Democrats have also worried that the demise of the Postal Service would jeopardize urgent prescription deliveries for millions of Americans.
Related reads: “GOP aligns with Trump in vote-by-mail clash looming over next relief package,” from CNN’s Jeremy Herb and Manu Raju: https://cnn.it/2VhhWsD; and “Coronavirus Is Threatening One of Government’s Steadiest Services: The Mail,” per NYT’s Nicholas Fandos and Jim Tankersley: https://nyti.ms/3e8wKlW.
HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this April 10, where your host can’t wait to add AOC’s appearance on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to tonight’s Friday quarantine line-up. Preview pics here.
THURSDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Burgess and Heather’s report on the small business aid showdown was the big winner.
TALK OF THE TOWN — Trump might be bragging about the ratings of his coronavirus press briefings — but some Republicans don’t share his enthusiasm. More from the NYT: “Mr. Trump ‘sometimes drowns out his own message,’ said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has become one of the president’s informal counselors and told him ‘a once-a-week show’ could be more effective. Representative Susan Brooks of Indiana said ‘they’re going on too long.’ Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said the briefings were ‘going off the rails a little bit’ and suggested that he should ‘let the health professionals guide where we’re going to go.’
“In interviews, Republican lawmakers, administration officials and members of his re-election campaign said they wanted Mr. Trump to limit his error-filled appearances at the West Wing briefings and move more aggressively to prepare for the looming recession. Some even suggested he summon a broader range of the country’s leaders, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, in an all-hands-on-deck moment to respond to the national emergency.” The story from Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman: https://nyti.ms/2UWiViQ.
WHO’S IN CHARGE — Republicans are sharpening their criticism of the World Health Organization. Marianne with the latest: “Sen. Todd Young is calling on World Health Organization Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to appear before a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee to answer questions about the organization’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The WHO in recent days has faced heated criticism from Senate Republicans and President Donald Trump, who argue the organization did not do enough to scrutinize China’s response to the outbreak.
“In his letter to Tedros, Young criticized the WHO for praising China’s initial response to the coronavirus and for relying on data from the Chinese government. … Young called on Tedros to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations’ Subcommittee on Multilateral Institutions for a hearing on how U.S. federal dollars may go to the WHO in the future. Young, in the interview, said he was optimistic Tedros would appear before the committee given that the United States is the organization’s largest contributor country.” More: https://politi.co/2Vwc3YT.
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? — Health care workers who are running for Congress are having to balance campaigning with also being on the frontline lines of fighting coronavirus. Roll Call explains: “Both [Christine Mann and Cameron Webb] are also Democrats running for Congress, and they are among the handful of candidates in both parties who are campaigning while working on the front lines of a pandemic.
“Balancing a full-time job with a campaign is a difficult task even in normal times. And these candidates’ day jobs are becoming more complicated and potentially more dangerous. But they say the current crisis has only strengthened their resolve to run for office, and it proves why health care professionals are needed in Congress. ‘My message has always been: Put a doctor in the House,’ Mann said.” The dispatch from Bridget Bowman and Stephanie Akin: https://bit.ly/2VfUvjv.
GET WELL SOON — Another member of Congress has tested positive for coronavirus. The Tallahassee Democrat with the story: “Florida Congressman Neal Dunn, R-Panama City, has tested positive for the coronavirus, his office announced Thursday. The 67-year old Dunn has represented all or parts of 19 counties, including Northeast Tallahassee, since 2016.
“Reached at his home in Panama City, Dunn said he was tested for exposure purposes and was resting. ‘Congress is conducting business by phone and computer. I call it Death-by-Conference-Call,’ said Dunn. Dunn went to the hospital Monday night when he began to feel ill but was not admitted. His test for COVID-19 came back positive Thursday. He had quarantined himself while awaiting the results and intends to remain home for at least another two weeks.” More from James Call: https://bit.ly/2xiL6j5.
STANDING BY SENATOR LOEFFLER — The Senate GOP’s campaign arm is sticking up for Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who is facing a political firestorm for stock trades during the pandemic. Marianne with more: “Sen. Todd Young, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, on Thursday reiterated his confidence in Kelly Loeffler’s election bid, amid controversy over the Georgia Republican’s stock trades.’Kelly Loeffler is a strong conservative voice for the people of Georgia,’ Young (R-Ind.) said in an interview. ‘She’s effectively representing them and she will continue to be an effective United States senator for the people of Georgia after November.’
“Loeffler has come under fire over stock trades she made during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak, specifically that she traded millions in stocks after a classified Senate briefing on coronavirus. While Loeffler has defended her actions and said the trades were done by third-party advisers, she announced Wednesday in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that she would liquidate all of her individual stock holdings. Loeffler emphasized she made the move not because of any wrongdoing but to quiet any distractions.” The latest: https://politi.co/2JQNUqi.
Matt Corridini, who previously worked for the Pete Buttigieg campaign and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), started as the press secretary at Senate Majority PAC.
The House and Senate are OUT.
Social distancing continues.
THURSDAY’S WINNER: Beth Gazley was the first person to guess that four U.S. senators have cast more than 10,000 votes: Mitch McConnell, Patrick Leahy, Chuck Grassley and Richard Shelby.
TODAY’S QUESTION: From Beth: How often — and during what periods — has the U.S. Capitol building been used as a hospital? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess to [email protected].
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- Melanie Zanona @MZanona
Small business aid stuck in Senate limbo
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