Leader of minorities in the house Kevin McCarthy
Kevin Owen McCarthy: Slim majority of Democrats in new poll says Pelosi should keep speaking. Growing number of lawmakers refuse early access to COVID-19 vaccine Congress passes .3T coronavirus relief, government funding MORE (R-Calif.) Is expected to file a unanimous consent request Thursday to revise the language related to spending on state and foreign operations in the $ 2.3 trillion omnibus and coronavirus aid package. President Trump
Donald Trump Senate candidate Ossoff backs Trump’s call for K-checks The White House wishes Birx well after she announces retirement Pelosi responds to Trump: Let’s aim for K-checks ‘this week’ MORE called into question such expenses.
The request contradicts an attempt by House Democrats to pass unanimously a bill that would bring in $ 2,000 stimulus vouchers instead of the $ 600 offered in sweeping legislation passed in both chambers of Congress Monday night after months of quarrel.
Trump – to the surprise of many GOP lawmakers – argued that the $ 600 direct payments included in the coronavirus relief portion of the bill were too small and then questioned the “wasteful” foreign aid spending as part of the omnibus.
The foreign spending portion of the government’s funding bill was in line with requests from Trump’s own State Department.
Trump’s criticism of foreign spending was summed up with his closing down on the reduced number of coronavirus-related stimulus checks. Negotiations between congressional lawmakers and his administration over COVID-19 emergency relief and government funding took months to smooth out and narrowly avoided a shutdown late last week and over the weekend.
It remains unclear whether Trump will eventually sign the spending bill. The president did not discuss the matter before leaving for Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday for his winter vacation.
At a GOP conference call Wednesday afternoon, “McCarthy said he had talked to Trump and is unsure what he will do,” a source said.
The Democrats quickly seized Trump’s call for higher stimulus payments. Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi Responds To Trump: Let’s Push For K-Checks ‘This Week’ Trump condemns emergency relief bill, calls on Congress to increase stimulus money. Democrats say more COVID-19 aid is needed after current measure becomes law | Biden economic adviser expects MORE ‘highly challenged’ economy early next year (D-Calif.) Called on the president to sign the omnibus portion of the massive spending package and then back a standalone bill offering increased direct payments.
Republicans in Congress have largely opposed greater stimulus controls.
In a “Dear Coleague” letter sent to members of his conference on Wednesday night, McCarthy fought Pelosi and accused her of using the American people as leverage for Democrats’ spending priorities in the midst of a crisis.
“Americans have needed relief from the coronavirus and lockdowns for months. House Republicans have tried more than 40 times to help, but each time Speaker Pelosi ignored our fellow citizens by saying “nothing is better than something,” he wrote.
Worse, by waiting days before Christmas, Speaker Pelosi tried to use the American people as leverage to make coronavirus relief dependent on government funding – including billions of foreign aid at a time when there are urgent needs at home. Our government’s top priority must be our families, communities and small businesses as we get through this pandemic and restore our country, ”he added.
Pelosi has argued that Republicans never confirmed a specific amount to which they would agree for any direct payment.
A number of GOP lawmakers expressed frustration with the president threatening to veto the law after the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
Steven Mnuchin Questions and Answers on Second Round of Incentive Payments The Hill’s Morning Report – Congress Passes COVID-19 Relief At Year End, Omnibus Deal Relief Law passage sparks fight to declare victory, blame it LAKE – who was key in helping negotiate the deal – assured lawmakers that the president would sign the legislation.
McCarthy appeared to be sided with Trump in an effort to rethink the foreign aid investigation.
House Democrats appear to be suffering from selective hearing. They have conveniently ignored the concerns raised by the president, and shared by our constituents, that we should re-examine how our tax dollars are being spent abroad while so many of our neighbors are struggling at home to make ends meet, ”the letter said
“So Republicans will be unanimously requesting permission to rethink the title of the omnibus’ state and foreign operations so that we can fully address current concerns,” McCarthy wrote. “It is up to Speaker Pelosi to decide if she wants to act on behalf of the American people.”