Free Republic

Well, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is probably the most hated man in Washington D.C. right now. He threatened to derail passage of the Wuhan coronavirus relief bill that sailed through the Senate on a 96-0 vote. It’s a $2 trillion package that admittedly has some bad stuff in it, but American businesses and workers need relief as the nation fights this Wuhan coronavirus outbreak that’s infected over 85,000 people and killed at least 1,200. States have adopted severe measures to stop the spread, instituting bans of mass gatherings of more than 10 people, closing non-essential businesses for a least a...

The rules of the Senate require that a quorum be present to transact business. A quorum is 51 Senators. In most instances, outside of roll call votes, there are no more than 4 Senators on the Senate floor. If a Republican Senator suggested the absence of a quorum, Democrats could not transact business on the bill. It is a common courtesy to allow the quorum call to be dispensed with, without requiring 51 members to show up on the Senate floor (to get 51 Senators to appear without a roll call vote is very time consuming). When the Democrats ask...