Disaster aid stalls again in House after second Republican lawmaker objects [View all]
Source: Washington Post
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) objected to a $19.1 billion disaster aid package on Tuesday, derailing House leaders' bid to quickly pass legislation that would send federal support to victims of natural disasters. Massie joins Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.), who was the lone representative to object Friday when House leaders made their first attempt at passing the measure. Roy objected because lawmakers left out the funding President Trump had requested for operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Despite the lack of border funding, President Trump said the Senate had his support when it overwhelmingly voted to advance the measure Thursday. The Senate vote came after months of gridlock, in which lawmakers and Trump fought over funding for Puerto Rico and other issues. The objections to the disaster aid bill further delays legislation that would send assistance to victims of Western wildfires, Midwestern flooding and hurricanes that hit the Southeast and Puerto Rico, as well as to other disaster-affected areas across the country.
House lawmakers left Washington last week, but leaders were able to advance the bill by "unanimous consent," a maneuver that allows for quick passage of legislation with only a few members present. A single objection is enough to block a bill from passing by unanimous consent. Massie called it "legislative malpractice" to pass the legislation without a full vote of the House, and he faulted Democrats for having sent members home for the Memorial Day break. If Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) "considered this must-pass legislation, why did she send everyone on recess?" Massie said Tuesday.
House lawmakers began leaving town last week before the Senate announced a bipartisan deal to move the measure. The full House is not scheduled to return to Washington until June 3.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/05/28/disaster-aid-stalls-again-house-after-second-republican-objects/?utm_term=.218eaa3a0776
These are some mean fuckers.
And right now, there are disasters going on with the catastrophic flooding and tornadoes in the MW that have been unrelenting and the GOP is holding up money for disasters that happened MONTHS and MONTHS ago.
The House is trying to do a "unanimous consent" on this to move it without a voice or roll call vote because they won't be back in session until next week.
Original article -
May 28 at 2:22 PM
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) objected to a $19.1 billion disaster aid package on Tuesday, derailing House leaders' bid to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Massie joins Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tex.), who was the lone representative to object Friday when House leaders made their first attempt at passing the measure.
The Senate passed the disaster bill last week with President Trump's support.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/05/28/disaster-aid-stalls-again-in-house-after-second-republican-lawmaker-objects/?utm_term.546a82e3a6b1
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