Senate Republicans are waiting to hear from the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi responds to Trump: Let’s push for K-checks ‘this week’ Trump attacks Thune: ‘He will be primaried in 2022’ Trump smashes aid bill, urges Congress to increase stimulus money MORE (R-Ky.) About what they will do if President Trump
Donald TrumpGeorgia’s Senate Candidate Ossoff backs Trump’s call for K controls White House wishes Birx happiness after announcing retirement Pelosi responds to Trump: Let’s push for K controls ‘this week’ MORE vetoes a massive package on coronavirus and spending on omnibuses that could set the stage for a government shutdown.
Two Republican aides on Wednesday said McConnell has not yet provided any guidance to the Senate Republican conference on whether there will be an attempt to override Trump’s veto on coronavirus assistance and funding proposals that leaders from both sides hailed as an important achievement. this week.
As it stands now, McConnell has informed senators of being prepared to vote as soon as Dec. 29 on a breach of Trump’s expected veto against the annual defense permit law.
It is possible that senators could also begin the process of overriding a bill against coronavirus assistance and omnibus spending, but that remains to be seen.
Senate sources say Trump was able to ensure that the 5,593-page coronavirus assistance and spending package went down by simply refusing to act on it before the new 117th Congress is convened on January 3rd.
The constitution gives the president 10 days – not including Sundays – to act according to legislation, otherwise it will automatically become law. If Congress postpones “sinus death” and Trump does not act before the 10-day period expires, the coronavirus proposal would fail with a “pocket veto”.
Trump must first receive the huge package of emergency and omnibus spending before Thursday or Friday because it takes time to sign up for the comprehensive bill.
If the new 117th Congress is convened and Trump has not yet signed the coronavirus aid package, which includes a new round of $ 600 stimulus checks, the legislation would die and Congress should have passed a new law in January.
If that happens, Congress will still have to pass another stopgap funding measure to prevent a government shutdown after the current stopgap expires on the evening of December 28th.
The Senate is scheduled to convene a pro forma session that day, and leaders can pass another short-term funding bill with the unanimous consent of the time – provided no legislators object.
Senators have been told that the Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, Dec. 29, during a morning session, and that roll-call votes are possible later in the day if they are to override Trump’s veto over the defense proposal.
Senate GOP aides say their bosses received an email Tuesday warning them of the possibility.
McConnell also announced the schedule on the Senate floor in the wee hours of Tuesday morning after the Senate passed the coronavirus relief package.
The GOP leader explained that the reason for returning to work on Tuesday would be to override Trump’s veto over the defense proposal if necessary.
“In the event that President Trump chooses to veto this bipartisan proposal, it appears that Parliament may choose to return after the holidays to set up a vote to consider the veto … In the event that the President has vetoed the bill, and Parliament has voted to override the veto, the Senate would have the option of considering a veto override at that time, ”McConnell said on the floor early Tuesday morning.
Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley
Chuck Grassley Rising numbers of lawmakers reject early access to COVID-19 vaccine Senate Democrat says cyberattack on Treasury ‘seems significant’ Dealers solve last-minute problems as COVID relief counts towards finish line MORE (R-Iowa) on Wednesday suggested the Senate could vote to override Trump’s vetoes over the defense proposal and the coronavirus and omnibus spending package after it returns Tuesday.
Grassley told reporters during a phone call Wednesday that he had been notified of the possibility of going into session to override a veto to prevent the government from shutting down.
A spokesman for Grassley later clarified that senators have been notified to return to work for a potential breach of a veto on the defense proposal and that time back in Washington could also be used to resolve the coronavirus assistance package.
The Senate’s action would depend on Parliament first voting to override potential Trump vetoes on the defense and coronavirus aid bills. If speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiPelosi responds to Trump: Let’s push for K-checks ‘this week’ Trump smashes emergency aid bill, urges Congress to increase stimulus money On The Money: Release of aid charter sets war to declare victory, award blame | Democrats say more COVID-19 emergency aid is needed after the current measure becomes law Biden financial adviser expects ‘very challenging’ economy early next year MORE (D-Calif.) Can not bring together the two-thirds votes needed to override Trump on both bills, then the Senate will not act.
If Trump sits on the coronavirus aid program and the omnibus spending package for 10 days, then none of the chambers will be able to respond to this bill before the new 117th Congress is convened.