Senate Democrats Thursday blocked a Republican bill that would have provided a new round of federal aid to battle the impact of the coronavirus.
Senate Republicans introduced the bill Tuesday hoping to attract enough Democratic support to achieve a 60-vote threshold needed to begin debate. But no Democrat was willing to vote in favor of the bill, a narrower relief package that would have provided roughly $500 billion dollars for coronavirus treatment, help for schools and universities, and a new round of loans for small businesses. The vote was 52-47, falling eight vote short of the threshold. The new bill appealed to more conservatives because it cost less and would be partly paid for with existing coronavirus funding that has remained unspent.
Dems aren't happy because it's not the $2.2 Trillion they wanted. They also rejected it because it was laden with conservative provisions they oppose. (Isn't that nice?) What do they think THEY always do? Their bills are always full of Dem liberal provisions that has/had nothing to do with COVID-19 without a single Republican input. They were also opposed to a provision that provided lawsuit liability protections for schools, health care facilities, and businesses. IOW, sue happy people would be allowed to sue those places if they or their kids get the virus. That's crazy! More proof that Dems don't care about lowering spending. That's all they know how to do... spend, spend, spend and block any and all Republican measures to cut spending.