Republicans put Democrats under control over stimulus checks and taxes in ‘vote-a-rama’ hours

Democrats approached to approve their $ 1.9 trillion aid package along a path that requires no Republican support on Thursday, although the process was put on a brief pause while lawmakers were making a budget ” vote-a-rama “.

The voting process marathon began with the conclusion of a debate on budget resolution, giving Republicans the chance to relax some political power.

Before Democrats can move forward with their budget resolution, the chamber must vote on all measures put forward by members during the raw vote.

Once the budget resolution is passed, Democrats will have the tools they need to proceed with their COVID aid package plans without Republican support – assuming that all party members are on board.

The proposed amendments will not change US policy, regardless of whether they are approved. Approved budget resolutions are not technically laws, and the amendments are also non-binding and will have no effect on the Democrats’ underlying relief proposal.

Instead, they tend to serve as a litmus test to measure support for various proposals, or as a way for the minority party to force the majority party’s registration on controversial topics, which can provide food for campaign attacks. in subsequent election cycles.

Any senator can propose an amendment to the resolution, and the vote is not expected to be completed by Friday morning.

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Here is a look at some of the amendments that lawmakers considered on Thursday:

Tax increases for small businesses

Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., And Tim Scott, RS.C., proposed an amendment to ban tax increases on small businesses. This would specifically prevent any tax-raising legislation from being passed through budgetary reconciliation during the pandemic. This amendment was approved unanimously.

School reopening after vaccination of teachers

An amendment presented by Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. And Tim Scott, RS.C., who would withhold emergency funding from schools that do not reopen for face-to-face learning after teachers received the COVID-19 vaccine, was not agreed. The vote count reached a uniform 50-50 party division, which failed as a rule.

A separate school-related measure was introduced by Senator John Barrasso, R-Wy., Designed to provide funding for schools in states that are expected to lose revenue due to the Biden government moratorium on leasing oil and natural gas on public lands and outside – coastal waters. This amendment was passed by 98 to 2.

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Taxation of remote work

Senator John Thune, RS.D., introduced an amendment to simplify the tax reporting process for people who worked remotely during the pandemic.

The amendment, which was passed, contains a series of provisions that affect people who worked in a state other than that of their office. It also offers frontline workers who have crossed state boundaries to help patients in hard-hit states, like New York, an extended moratorium on income taxes in the new state. The purpose of this is to prevent these people from facing surprising tax bills for their essential work.

Stimulus checks for illegal immigrants

Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., And Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Proposed an amendment that would prohibit any future payment of economic impact from being sent to illegal immigrants.

The amendment was approved, but 42 parliamentarians voted against it.

As previously reported by Fox News, House Democrats proposed a bill late last year that would have provided checks to some illegal immigrants.

Senators Joe Manchin, W.Va. and Susan Collins, R-Me., introduced another change in relation to stimulus checks, which would direct them to the families who need them most.

Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., Was the only vote against that measure.

Caroline McKee of Fox News contributed to this report.