It is doubtful whether the House or the Senate can handle the next COVID-19 package by the first week of March, Fox News learns. But the process to place a relief measure for COVID on the floor of the House and Senate begins next week.
Here is the problem: how does the Senate move such a measure (not yet written) and avoid an obstruction? This requires 60 years. Also, how do Democrats propose a 50/50 Senate plan? The answer is “budget reconciliation”. It is a mysterious one-year fiscal process that restricts the Senate debate to just 20 hours. No obstructions are allowed. And you only need 51 votes to pass.
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Fox News learned that the House Budget Committee will prepare a budget “vehicle” on February 1. The measure is likely to go to the House floor on February 3. This “vehicle” is the essential first step. You cannot make the content of the coronavirus bill unless you have the vehicle for reconciliation that allows the Senate to consider the royal package under these special rules.
Fox was informed that the Senate is likely to change its budgetary reconciliation vehicle on February 5.
In other words, this is the “bus” that will contain the contents of the next COVID package – and will allow it to bypass obstructions.
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Fox News has been informed that it will still take a few weeks to obtain the next coronavirus bill, and that it will likely arrive in the first week of March. But it can happen sooner if the measure is ready.
Democrats used budgetary reconciliation to approve ObamaCare in 2010 because they failed to get 60 votes to overcome an obstruction. Republicans used reconciliation to no avail to try to undo ObamaCare. And Republicans also used reconciliation to approve tax reform.
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Meanwhile, many Americans have yet to receive their $ 600 stimulus checks that were approved as part of the $ 900 billion aid package approved in December. Most Americans received $ 1,200 stimulus checks as part of the first relief bill in April.
Evie Fordham of Fox News contributed to this report.