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'Rogue' Republican could stall coronavirus relief vote, House members fear
Furious lawmakers voiced serious concerns on Capitol Hill late Thursday that a Republican House member could “go rogue” and possibly scuttle a vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, and potentially endanger other House members in the process, Fox News has learned.
Furious lawmakers voiced serious concerns on Capitol Hill late Thursday that a Republican House member could “go rogue” and possibly scuttle a vote on the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, and potentially endanger other House members in the process, Fox News has learned.
Fox News is told there is deep worry on both sides of the aisle that Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., could try to sidetrack House plans to quickly approve the coronavirus bill via a “voice vote” -- a verbal exercise in which those in favor shout yea, and those opposed holler nay. The loudest side would prevail.
“It’s the Thomas Massie show,” said one senior Republican source who asked to not be identified.
“He is going to do it,” a senior Republican leadership source told Fox News, explaining that leadership had tried every type of arm twisting -- and it's not working. The source said he was actively calling members and telling them to get on planes in the morning to come back to Washington so a quorum of 216 members could be established if Massie or another member were to demand one. Asked whether the House leadership was concerned about others besides Massie, another source replied, “There are others who are egging him on.”
The 880-page coronavirus stimulus package would amount to the largest economic relief bill in the history of the U.S. for individuals, large corporations, and small businesses -- and its 96-0 passage in the Senate came despite grave concerns on both sides about whether it involved too much spending or not enough.
Massie did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Fox News late Thursday. It was unclear exactly why he may want to delay the bill, which some lawmakers have said contains too much wasteful spending -- including $25 million for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Click here for more on our top story.
Other related developments:
- Pelosi 'jiu-jitsu' claim all wrong, McCarthy says: 'She held the bill up'
- US overtakes China, Italy in total confirmed coronavirus cases, researchers say
- Fox News Poll: Recession fears mount
- Pelosi 'jiu-jitsu' claim all wrong, McCarthy says: 'She held the bill up'
- US overtakes China, Italy in total confirmed coronavirus cases, researchers say
- Fox News Poll: Recession fears mount
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