Only a group as pathetic as Congress could wait until the last minute to do anything right. They had seven months to pass an additional COVID relief bill.
Seven months when Americans were struggling, thanks to government-mandated shutdowns. But Congress did nothing.
They forced through a last-minute, 6,000-page bill loaded with garbage. The bill barely addresses COVID, with most of the money going to other countries. Americans would only get $600.
President Trump called on Congress to cut the foreign expenses and increase checks to Americans. Pelosi only tried to bump up the payments.
But Republicans struck her effort down. From CNBC:
House Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic attempt to pass $2,000 direct payments to Americans, as the fate of the massive coronavirus relief package passed by Congress earlier in the week hangs in the balance…
Democrats aimed to approve the measure by unanimous consent, which means any one lawmaker can block it.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., offered the proposal from the House floor, but was blocked because the measure was not approved by House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Republicans tried to get Democrats to not only increase checks to Americans but address the parts of the bill that sent billions to foreign nations.
Democrats, blocked that, of course. So, when it came time to add their additional spending, Republican Kevin McCarthy rejected it.
Because it was a “pro forma” session of Congress, just one lawmaker was needed to block the measure. Because Democrats refused to make concessions on the massive spending to other countries, Republicans weren’t willing to pass their increased changes.
This means the bill in its current form might not be signed by the president. He called on both parties to make meaningful changes to both help Americans and save us tax dollars.
But Congress, as usual, was playing its political games.
Time and again, Democrats in Congress have blamed Trump for all the “problems” in our society. But when they get an actual chance to make a positive change, they refuse.
This is just like what happened over the summer when Republicans wanted to pass legislation to improve police departments and address issues people were demanding change on.
Even as millions of Americans were demanding action—who blocked it? Democrats.
I wonder if they ever want to do right by us?
Source: CNBC