Congress returns to face funding deadline, pressure on coronavirus aid
WASHINGTON After months of shadowboxing amid a tense and toxic campaign, Capitol Hills main players are returning for one final, perhaps futile, attempt at deal-making on a challenging menu of year-end business.
COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy and a final burst of judicial nominees dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as the coronavirus pandemic rockets out of control in President Donald Trumps final weeks in office.
The only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11. The route preferred by top lawmakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is to agree upon and pass an omnibus spending bill for the government. But it may be difficult to overcome bitter divisions regarding a long-delayed COVID-19 relief package thats a top priority of business, state and local governments, educators and others.
Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitols emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. The House has truncated its schedule, and Senate Republicans are joining Democrats in forgoing the in-person lunch meetings that usually anchor their workweeks. Itll take serious, good-faith conversations among top players to determine whats possible, but those havent transpired yet.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congress-returns-face-funding-deadline-pressure-coronavirus-aid-n1249333
Will the Democrats and Republicans in Congress hammer out a bill to keep the government open between 12/11/20 and 1/21/21?
Will Trump sign, or would he rather cause chaos by shutting down the government until inaguration?
If the latter, will Congress be able to hammer out a veto-proof compromise?