Senior Senate Republicans, including the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, say they do not support the Biden administration’s request for another $22.5 billion to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheney and Kinzinger have emerged as two of the most vocal Trump critics in the House Republican Conference since the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol that preceded the former president’s second impeachment. That criticism has earned each of them a set of primary challengers, many of whom are hoping to capitalize on Trump’s remaining influence within the GOP to win their party’s nomination next year.
But so far, none have managed to out-raise Cheney or Kinzinger.
In Wyoming, state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, one of the Republicans challenging Cheney, raised $213,000 in the second quarter of the year, according to his Thursday filing. Another one of her primary opponents, state Rep. Chuck Gray, raised about $220,000.
Eleventh-hour drama is scrambling the Senate s vote on legislation aimed at combating China s competitiveness, a top priority for Majority Leader Charles Schumer
The Senate started an initial vote on the bill, restyled as the Innovation and Competition Act, at 11:03 a.m. on Thursday.
As of 1:40 p.m. they were still voting as Democrats sought sign off on a deal between Sen. Mike Crapo
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That s kept the bill in limbo, with 13 Republicans and Schumer holding out to see if a deal can come together before they cast their vote. If they are able to get an agreement, the GOP votes would be enough to let the bill move forward.
Asked if she thought the House could pass a deal on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
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Because coronavirus relief is tied up with government funding, Congress has to either pass a deal or a stopgap spending bill by the end of Friday in order to prevent a brief weekend shutdown
Leadership is eyeing a days-long continuing resolution (CR) to buy themselves more time, though Thune warned that, if leadership doesn t have a larger deal in hand by midnight Friday, a senator might block passage of the stopgap and force a brief funding lapse.
Part of what appears to be dragging out the talks is a growing recognition that this could be the final coronavirus relief package. Though President-elect Biden and Democrats are characterizing this as “down payment,” Republicans are making it clear they aren’t yet committed to coming back.
This is clearly not just one side that takes advantage of these moments, but I always think it s unfortunate. We ve got our work to do, we all know we need to get it done, it seldom produces a result that a member thinks it s going to produce, said Sen. Roy Blunt
The setbacks come after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
ADVERTISEMENT For the information of all senators, we should expect the potential for a late night tonight and the possibility of votes tomorrow,” he said.
Part of the headache for leadership is timing and how the bills are lined up for floor votes.