Happy Friday and welcome back to On The Money. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line.
See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your newsletter, you can subscribe to it here: http://bit.ly/1NxxW2N.
Write us with tips, suggestions and news: slane@thehill.com, njagoda@thehill.com and nelis@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @SylvanLane, @NJagoda and @NivElis.
THE BIG DEAL—Coronavirus relief talks stall as liability issue foils negotiators: Senators on Friday said efforts to reach a compromise on liability protection language have failed to make significant progress, putting a broader deal on a COVID-19 relief package in peril.
Senators familiar with the talks said that Democrats have rejected the latest Republican offer to create an 18-month federal shield on coronavirus litigation.
- Republican lawmakers say their latest offer was a significant concession after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump at CPAC foments 2022 GOP primary wars Hawley gets boisterous ovation at CPAC for Electoral College objection Why Congress must invoke the 14th Amendment now MORE (R-Ky.) earlier this year called for a five-year period of liability protection for businesses, schools, health care providers and other organizations. - “Durbin says that there’s no deal, it’s over,” said one Republican senator briefed on the talks, referring to Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinPartisan headwinds threaten Capitol riot commission Murkowski undecided on Tanden as nomination in limbo Democrats ask FBI for plans to address domestic extremism following Capitol attack MORE (D-Ill.). - Moderate Democrats familiar with the talks on Friday acknowledged that reaching a deal on liability protection language is slipping away.
“We have an eight-month impasse around liability issues and it’s proving extremely difficult to close it,” said Sen. Chris Coons
Chris Andrew CoonsThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The AIDS Institute - Senate ref axes minimum wage, House votes today on relief bill Partisan headwinds threaten Capitol riot commission Trumpists' assaults on Republicans who refuse to drink the Kool-Aid will help Democrats MORE (D-Del.). The Hill’s Alexander Bolton and Naomi Jagoda explain here.
The state of play:
- Senate Republican Whip John Thune
John Randolph ThuneGraham: Trump will 'be helpful' to all Senate GOP incumbents Cruz hires Trump campaign press aide as communications director Senate GOP works to avoid having '22 war with Trump MORE (S.D.) said the talks on liability protection have stalled and that negotiators are now discussing adding coronavirus-relief provisions to the year-end omnibus spending package. - He said a bipartisan group of moderates who are also working on a COVID relief package are exploring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) suggestion to leave the two most contentious items, liability protection and funding for state and local governments, aside.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerHillicon Valley: Biden signs order on chips | Hearing on media misinformation | Facebook's deal with Australia | CIA nominee on SolarWinds House Rules release new text of COVID-19 relief bill Budowsky: Cruz goes to Cancun, AOC goes to Texas MORE (D-N.Y.) argued that a bipartisan group of negotiators were close to a deal on Thursday but that McConnell’s team told congressional leaders that the group would not be able to satisfy Senate Republicans on liability protections.
“It’s an unconscionable position: no relief for the American people unless corporations receive blanket immunity from lawsuits,” Schumer said.
LEADING THE DAY
Senate approves funding bill by voice vote to avert shutdown: The Senate passed a one-week stopgap bill on Friday, hours ahead of a government shutdown deadline.
Senators passed the bill by a voice vote, moving the funding deadline from the end of the day Friday to Dec. 18. The one-week continuing resolution (CR) already passed the House on Wednesday, meaning it now goes to President Trump
Donald TrumpBiden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot Trump Jr.: There are 'plenty' of GOP incumbents who should be challenged MORE’s desk, where he’ll need to sign it by midnight.
Though a shutdown is averted for now, negotiators are still trying to lock down a mammoth agreement that would include the 12 fiscal 2021 bills and fund the government until Oct. 1, 2021. The Hill’s Jordain Carney tells us more about the work left to do here.
Sanders, Hawley vow fight next week over stimulus checks: Sens. Josh Hawley
Joshua (Josh) David HawleyOn The Money: Democrats scramble to save minimum wage hike | Personal incomes rise, inflation stays low after stimulus burst Democrats scramble to rescue minimum wage hike Hawley gets boisterous ovation at CPAC for Electoral College objection MORE (R-Mo.) and Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersHouse Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike House set for tight vote on COVID-19 relief package On The Money: Democrats scramble to save minimum wage hike | Personal incomes rise, inflation stays low after stimulus burst MORE (I-Vt.) are warning they will use next Friday's government funding deadline to try to force a vote on a second round of stimulus checks amid lawmakers' failure to secure a deal on another coronavirus relief package.
"This Congress must address the economic emergency facing the American people. We cannot go back to our families during the Christmas holidays while tens of millions of families are suffering," Sanders said during a floor speech.
While Sanders and Hawley allowed a one-week continuing resolution to clear on Friday, averting a shutdown, they are warning about a showdown next week on their proposal.
- "I am not one of the members of the Senate who shuts down, does this or does that and keeps you here for the weekend. I don't do that. But this I want to say right now, I am prepared to withdraw my objection at this moment, but I will not be prepared to withdraw an objection next week," Sanders said.
- Hawley added that there is "no reason that this body should leave next week before we vote on and approve direct assistance to working families."
Hawley and Sanders, typically political polar opposites, have teamed up to push for a second round of stimulus checks as Congress tries to wrap up its work for the year, with leadership needing to get a mammoth government funding deal and potentially a fifth coronavirus agreement. Jordain tells us more about the unconventional duo’s mission here.
ON TAP NEXT WEEK
Virtual Event Announcement: 1:30PM ET Monday 12/14--Rebuilding the Federal Workforce
The federal workforce is losing senior talent. According to OPM and OMB, of the 2.1 million current federal civilian employees, more than one-third are eligible for retirement in the next five years, and only six percent are under 30. With a new administration on its way, how can the government restore this policy expertise to ensure efficiency and to take on the challenges of governing? Reps. Jennifer Wexton
Jennifer Lynn WextonActing chief acknowledges police were unprepared for mob Six ways to visualize a divided America Wexton, Speier call for revamp of clearance process to screen for extremist views MORE (D-VA) and Francis Rooney
Laurence (Francis) Francis RooneyGrowing number of House Republicans warm to proxy voting Lawmakers express concern about lack of young people in federal workforce The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Mastercard - Today: Vaccine distribution starts, Electoral College meets. MORE (R-FL), David Rohde, former Deputy Education Secretary Jim Shelton, former NTIA Acting Administrator Diane Rinaldo and more. RSVP for event reminders. (https://rebuildingfedgov.splashthat.com/)
Tuesday:
- The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) begins its two-day December meeting.
- A Senate Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on the impact of COVID-19 on the live entertainment industry at 10 a.m.
- A Senate Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on expanding entrepreneurship beyond “traditional hubs” at 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday:
- A Senate Banking subcommittee holds a hearing on the economic competition between the U.S. and China at 9:30 a.m.
- The FOMC announces its monetary policy decision at 2 p.m., followed by a press conference with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at 2:30 p.m.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Four congressional committees on Friday reached a bipartisan deal on legislation to protect patients from massive "surprise" medical bills after a series of tense negotiations, according to congressional aides.
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth WarrenExclusive: How Obama went to bat for Warren Minimum wage setback revives progressive calls to nix Senate filibuster Democratic strategists start women-run media consulting firm MORE (D-Mass.) has ramped up pressure on President-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenHouse Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot MORE to cancel student loan debt to accelerate the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and narrow the racial wealth gap. - The Manhattan district attorney's office has interviewed several employees of President Trump's bank and insurance brokerage in recent weeks as part of its investigation of the president and his business, The New York Times reported Friday, citing people with knowledge of the situation.
