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Even as they spent Thursday night proposing dueling additions to a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan, some U.S. senators in both parties appeared to agree on one point -- limiting aid to a smaller share of Americans.
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., took the floor to lambast the plan, which Democratic senate leaders sought to push through in a narrow vote using a legislative tactic called budget reconciliation. As initially proposed, the plan would include $1,400 checks for every American -- a larger version of the payouts sent last year.
"There's nothing about unity in this exercise. This is designed to be a partisan exercise," Toomey said. "It is designed not to find common ground."
Republicans have challenged key points proposed by Democrats, including a minimum wage hike -- the first since 2009 -- and funding for state and local governments that took revenue hits during the pandemic.
Despite stiff opposition, Democrats voted early Friday to push the debate forward, although the final relief bill isn't yet set. Vice President Kamala Harris cast a tie-breaking vote against united Republican opposition.
For GOP senators like Toomey, the proposed stimulus payments are too large and too widespread, with supposedly undeserving families set to receive cash payments.
"If President Biden's plan passes ... and the eligibility criteria for these checks follows the methodology for the previous two rounds of checks, then a family of four with household income of $150,000 will receive $5,600. That's on top of the $5,800 they got from the previous rounds," Toomey claimed on the Senate floor. "How does this make any sense?"
Toomey's remarks to colleagues came after a group of GOP senators submitted a letter to President Joe Biden asking for a vastly smaller relief plan. The senators called on Biden to limit support to "struggling lower- and middle-income families."
Some Senate Democrats, too, have expressed concerns about sending stimulus payments to every American. On Thursday, the Washington Post noted that some Democratic senators were discussing a plan that would allow full payments only to individuals making up to $75,000 or couples making $150,000.
Senators dueled in a "vote-a-rama" Thursday, with GOP senators opposed to the relief plan pushing for unrelated goals to be included in the sweeping budget bill that could ultimately include COVID-19 relief. Toomey proposed cutting federal funds to so-called sanctuary cities that decline to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
While Republicans and moderate Democrats called for an elusive bipartisan plan and moved to cut back on aid, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., appeared willing to go without Republican support. Late last month, Casey suggested a willingness to use budget reconciliation or even eliminate the filibuster to keep Republicans from derailing relief plans.
In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer late last month, Casey said Democrats may have to act unilaterally -- a process they launched this week, with a narrow 50-49 vote pushing the chamber toward budget reconciliation.
"It's always preferable to have strong bipartisan support, it's always obligatory to dedicate some time to that, but there are times when you have to, to use the old expression, fish or cut bait," he told the newspaper.
Reps oppose
Greene punishment
Local House members refused to strip committee assignments this week from a colleague known for supporting outlandish conspiracy theories and endorsing violence against fellow Congress members.
The House passed a resolution Thursday removing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., from the Education and Labor Committee and Budget Committee. While some Democrats have called for Greene's wholesale ejection from the chamber, most of her GOP colleagues -- including Rep. John Joyce, R-13th District, and Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, R-15th District -- declined to back even a less serious rebuke.
Greene, already controversial as an outspoken first-term representative, drew attention in recent weeks for her past endorsement of outlandish conspiracy theories. In online posts, videos and Facebook "likes," she suggested school shootings have been faked by nefarious forces and said California wildfires were caused by a satellite weapon.
Greene also allegedly called for the execution of prominent politicians, including her current colleagues, in online posts before her election. Fellow Republicans condemned the remarks, but accused their opponents of unfairly seeking to remove her from office.
On Thursday, 11 Republicans joined the vote to remove Greene from her committee posts, including one Pennsylvanian: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1st District.
Lawmakers push Guard vaccines
With Pennsylvania lagging behind most other states in vaccinating its residents, some state lawmakers are pushing for the National Guard to step in -- even as many work to end Pennsylvania's ongoing state of emergency.
A bill by Rep. Timothy O'Neal, R-Washington, would call on the National Guard to establish health centers across the state to distribute vaccines and other medical supplies. Guard members also could be sent to nursing homes to combat outbreaks.
Cosponsors include Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset, and Rep. Tommy Sankey, R-Osceola Mills.
"The (National Guard) has both the infrastructure, human capital and logistics to make sure that the vaccine is distributed to all in a timely fashion and efficiently. Several other states and territories have already started to utilize their National Guard," O'Neal said in a memo soliciting colleagues' support. "National Guard units have been conducting tests, sanitizing facilities, providing logistical support and delivering meals and personal protective equipment."
The bill passed a committee vote with almost unanimous support, including from Rep. Frank Burns, D-Johnstown.