House Democrats on Tuesday abruptly reversed their decision to come back to Capitol Hill next week, saying the Capitol physician warned that doing so risks exposing members to coronavirus.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, walked back the announcement he made a day earlier about the pending return to legislating.
He blamed the turnaround on a new opinion from Congress’ in-house physician,
Dr. Brian Monahan, who pointed out that the number of cases in the city and the surrounding Capitol Hill neighborhoods was still climbing.
“We had no choice. If the Capitol physician recommends that we not come back, then we have to take that guidance,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat.
President Trump took the opportunity to slam Democrats for “enjoying their vacation,” citing the video of Mrs. Pelosi showing her assortment of ice cream during a bit on a late-night talk show.
Democrats have harshly criticized Mr. Trump for making statements that contradict scientists and doctors on his own coronavirus task force.
The attending physician advises for all of Congress.
While the House dropped plans to return, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, doubled down on plans to resume Senate business in-person next week.
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, slammed Democrats for staying out of town, accusing them of wanting to “draft bills in secret.”
“If President Trump and Senate Republicans can be in Washington working safely, there’s no reason for House Democrats to prevent us from doing the same,” Mr. Scalise said in a statement.
There isn’t a set date for the House to return yet, but Mr. Hoyer said he hopes it will be “soon” to vote on the Democrats’ next package. Members were advised Tuesday morning that they’ll be notified to fly back into Capitol Hill if a vote is requested.
When members do return, the House will implement the same health procedures they did last week when voting on the emergency coronavirus relief funds. Members used spaced out voting machines on the floor, everyone was urged to wear masks, and the vote was broken up into nine blocks and only small groups of members were allowed on the floor at a time. The process stretched out the voting process to last nearly an hour and a half per vote.
In the meantime, Mr. Hoyer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, will continue to meet to discuss how the House could implement policies so lawmakers can do their jobs remotely.
“Technology has enabled us to do things without physically being in the same place together. That’s what I hope we will achieve for committees so the committees can have hearings, can have markups, can report out bills — can do all the work they could do if they were sitting in the same room together,” Mr. Hoyer said.
“This capability will be used only in very, very unusual compelling circumstances like we are confronting today,” he said.
Mrs. Pelosi said the Senate can make its own decision on the health risks to its members.
“We can’t be bothered about whether we’re disadvantaged with the Senate [returning]. We have to be bothered about the health and safety of the workers of the Capitol,” she said. “We could not take any chances because there’s so much more of us.”
Mr. Hoyer also said there was no reason to rush back for votes when more work is needed on the next coronavirus economic rescue bill.
Democrats want the proposed new package of spending, known as the “phase four” stimulus, to including vote-by-mail provisions and as much as $500 billion to shore up state and local budgets decimated by the economic shutdown.
Republicans have pumped the breaks on another big spending bill. They are skeptical of a “bailout” of state and local governments and suggest the money come with limitations.
Mr. McConnell also said more stimulus spending must include liability protections for small business owners and health care providers, who otherwise would face lawsuits for exposing people to coronavirus when they reopen.
Mrs. Pelosi said it was a nonstarter.
“How does that make sense? That’s another example of the Republicans’ misplaced priorities. During this global health crisis, they’re worried about protecting the companies. Democrats are fighting to protect workers,” she said. “They’re not concerns. They’re excuses. This money is desperately needed.”
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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