January 1, Pelosi Suffers ‘Heartbreaking’ Defeat on Capitol Hill

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
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House Democratic leaders were forced to remove billions of dollars in coronavirus relief funding from a $1.5 trillion government package — a move that allows for the passage of the larger package but leaves the future of pandemic relief uncertain. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) confirmed the news in a Dear Colleague letter, wherein she called the defeat “heartbreaking.”

“Because of Republican insistence — and the resistance by a number of our Members to making those offsets — we will go back to the Rules Committee to remove COVID funding and accommodate the revised bill,” Pelosi wrote.

“We must proceed with the omnibus today, which includes emergency funding for Ukraine and urgent funding to meet the needs of America’s families.”

“It is heartbreaking to remove the COVID funding, and we must continue to fight for urgently needed COVID assistance, but unfortunately that will not be included in this bill.”

Though Pelosi largely blamed Republicans, The Hill reports, members of her own party ultimately forced her hand.

After a tumultuous morning of internal negotiations, lawmakers proposed to offset $15.6 billion in new pandemic relief by rescinding unspent COVID-19 funds sent to certain states as part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief bill one year ago.

“I’m not going to tolerate that,” Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) said. “If they can pull that out, we might be able to move forward.”

“This deal was cut behind closed doors. Members found out this morning, this is completely unacceptable,” said Rep. Annie Craig (D-MN) shortly after leaving Pelosi’s office.

Source:

Democrats yank COVID relief after revolt by own members