Senate Democrats are prepared to work long nights and over the weekend to pass President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief legislation, determined to withstand an attack by Republican Party postponement tactics.
Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Is threatening to get Senate officials to read the entire bill out loud, which can take about 10 hours of time. And Republicans are ready to offer a flurry of amendments to force Democrats to get hurtful votes during the so-called “a-vote-a-rama”.
Democrats, however, say they will be fed coffee and energized by what they say is broad support for the American people for legislation to keep them on the long nights they are expected to.
“They can keep us up all night,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. “They can keep us going until Sunday, it doesn’t matter. Let’s just keep drinking coffee and do it.”
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There are 20 hours of debate reserved for coronavirus legislation, and then the amendment voting marathon will begin, where Republicans can offer unlimited proposals and force Democrats to vote politically tough on everything from abortion to border security.
Senate Republicans plan to launch a “maximum pressure, maximum exposure” strategy, while Democrats try to get the bill past the finish line, according to Stephen Bradford, a spokesman for the Senate Republican Conference.
Forcing each reading and the legislative text to read will not count against debate time and will only consume more time on the weekend.
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The Senate majority leader, Senator Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., called on Johnson and Republicans willing to go “to ridiculous extremes” to oppose a bill popular with the public.
He said Democrats are “delighted” that Johnson wants to give the American people a chance to hear what’s on the bill, because there is “overwhelming support” for direct stimulus checks, unemployment insurance, food aid, assistance for rent, distribution of vaccinations and resources for schools and local governments.
He said that causing “sore throats to Senate secretaries” will not yet prevent the bill from being passed.
“No matter how long it takes, the Senate will remain in session to finish the bill – this week,” said Schumer on Thursday. “The American people deserve nothing less.”
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Republican senators considered the $ 1.9 trillion bill to be a liberal wish list that has little to do with the coronavirus.
Johnson said he feels bad for clerks, who will have to read the entire bill on the floor, but he said it is important to expose the huge spike in spending that will burden future generations with more debt.
“All I’m trying to do is make this process more deliberative [and] obviously light up this abusive and obscene amount of money, “Johnson said on Thursday.
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The House has already passed its coronavirus relief legislation, which included a $ 15 minimum wage that was withdrawn in the Senate. Senate Democrats are also making changes to the state and local aid bill, narrowing eligibility for stimulus checks, adding relief funding for tourism losses and other issues.
Any bill passed by the Senate would have to go back to the House for approval before going to Biden’s desk for its signature.