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Covid funding stripped from omnibus bill following Democratic pushback

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Following pushback from some Democrats, President Biden’s requested Covid assistance funding will be a stand-alone bill. Initially, the $16 billion aid package was included in the omnibus funding bill the House passed Wednesday evening.

The money for the Covid aid was to come from leftover Paycheck Protection Program funds, meaning some states would lose money previously allocated to them and sparking Democratic resistance.

“I fought against this last minute deal that would have shortchanged Kansans out of funds we were promised & that our state has already allocated,” Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) tweeted. “I’m happy to work with leadership and my Republican colleagues to find a path forward on COVID relief that doesn’t come out of Kansas’ budget.”

Some Members expressed disappointment about how they learned the Covid money would come from PPP.

“This deal was cut behind closed doors. Members found out this morning,” Rep. Angie Craig (D-AR) told The Hill. “This is completely unacceptable.” 

“To complete our work on the omnibus today, we are removing the coronavirus supplemental funding and considering it as standalone legislation without any problematic offsets,” House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) tweeted.

Annie Andersen: FORGET THE DEMOCRAT DIVIDE… 

WE ARE NOW IN THE THROWS OF A FULL-ON DEMOCRATIC REVOLT. 

SO.. THAT 1.5 TRILLION DOLLAR OMNIBUS BILL THE HOUSE PASSED.

IT DIDN’T GO AS INTENDED. 

AS THE BILL WAS WRITTEN IT HAD ABOUT 16 BILLION DOLLARS FOR COVID MONEY IN IT.

SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS LEFTOVER FROM THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM. 

TAKE SOT- SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, (D-CA)

<<”we couldn’t get 60 votes without taking money out of the state allocations that were in the Rescue package.”>>

Annie Andersen: BUT THAT 2700 PLUS PAGE BILL WASN’T RELEASED UNTIL ABOUT 1-30 WEDNESDAY MORNING.. JUST HOURS BEFORE MEMBERS WERE EXPECTED TO VOTE ON IT. 

TAKE SOT- SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, (D-CA)

<<”There has never been a bill that, when it comes forward /DIP TO WHITE/ that somebody: ‘I didn’t get what I wanted in a bill.’  You’re telling Noah about the flood.  ‘I didn’t get what I wanted in a bill.”>>

Annie Andersen: BUT SOME DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WERE BLINDSIDED BY THE MOVE TO PULL P-P-P FUNDING.

MINNESOTA DEMOCRAT ANGIE CRAIG TOLD THE HILL THE DEAL TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM STATES WAS MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND SHE ISN’T OK WITH THAT. 

AND CHECK OUT THIS TWEET FROM KANSAS DEMOCRAT SHARICE DAVIDS.  

AND THESE ARE MODERATE DEMOCRATS!

MANY OTHER RANK AND FILE DEMS HAD THE SAME RESPONSE.. 

LEADING SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TO PULL THE COVID FUNDING FROM THE OMNIBUS BILL TO GET IT THROUGH. 

TAKE SOT- SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, (D-CA)

<<”let’s grow up about this, okay?  We’re in a legislative process.  We have a deadline for keeping government open.  We have a lively negotiation.”>>

Annie Andersen: BUT BACK TO THE BIGGER ISSUE… THE SPLIT IN THE PARTY

PELOSI CRITICS TELL PUNCHBOWL NEWS THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A BIGGER PROBLEM..

THAT PELOSI’S CIRCLE IS TOO SMALL AND SHE’S MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF HER PARTY

BUT THERE’S ALSO THIS.. THE WHITE HOUSE.. 

THE SENATE AND THEN PELOSI ALL SIGNED OFF ON THE BILL.. INCLUDING THE COVID PART.. BUT ONLY ONE PERSON IS TAKING THE BLAME- PELOSI. 

TAKE SOT- SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, (D-CA)

<<”every line in the bill is a negotiation.”>> 

Annie Andersen: THIS LATEST STAND-OFF SHOULD BE INTERESTING BECAUSE HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE AT THEIR CAUCUS RETREAT.. 

WHICH IS GENERALLY A TIME TO UNIFY BEFORE THE MIDTERMS..

 BUT NOW.. ONE DEMOCRAT TOLD PLAYBOOK HE THINKS IT’S CURSED.

OH TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL THERE. 

STRAIGHT FROM DC I’M AA