A Capitol 'Christmas Carol'

WCSI ^ | Dec 24, 2020

[11th_VA]

The coronavirus/omnibus spending bill was dead to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of its burial wasn’t signed by the president…old coronavirus/omnibus spending bill was as dead as a doornail.

No. These aren’t the opening lines of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, writing about the death of Ebenezer Scrooge’s late business partner, Jacob Marley. But it’s pretty close. And certainly, what unfolded this Christmas on Capitol Hill surrounding a COVID aid package was just as Dickensian...

It’s unclear if the president’s proposed changes to the bill could pass. And don’t forget that Congress has some responsibility in all of this, too. Congress thought it had a deal with President Trump in 2018 to avoid a shutdown. It didn’t. Perhaps wiser heads should have anticipated the pocket veto scenario. Congress dithered well into December, trying to secure a final COVID package. An earlier resolution would have given Congress recourse via a veto override. Now, there’s none.

So, this may be the worst Christmas yet on Capitol Hill.

Ever.

We’ve had votes on Obamacare on Christmas Eve morning in 2009. The House impeached President Clinton just days before Christmas in 1998. The House reprised that performance with Trump days before Christmas in 2019. We’ve had Congress return to session between Christmas and New Year’s. December is always a torrent of action. It’s nothing but late-night negotiations, weekend sessions and chaos.

Those were the ghosts of Christmas past.

And the ghost of Christmas present will cast an eerie shadow over the ghosts of Christmas future.

[11th_VA]

Very clever opening ...

[rstrahan]

This is what Congress has devolved into, dumping trillions into a bill that tries to be everything to everyone. Time to fire the people leading the Republican party. Doesn’t have the US people first. More interested in throwing money overseas.

[11th_VA]

And this just in:

The roughly $900 billion stimulus package is on its way to President Donald Trump for his signature, though it’s unclear whether he will sign the bill that would deliver aid to Americans, mutliple news outlets reported on Thursday.

The massive 5,593-page bill, which includes the $1.4 trillion omnibus, is being flown on the plane to Florida, where Trump is staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort for Christmas.