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Cable television broadcasting industry

Senate Leaders Clash Over Return to Session Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected calls to skip returning to session next week due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, stating that the chamber has constitutionally-mandated duties to carry out, including the confirmation of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees. This decision has sparked a heated debate between McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, with Schumer vowing to "scrutinize" McConnell's safety guidelines for returning to session. The controversy highlights the challenges of balancing the need to conduct legislative business with the risk of spreading the virus.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has decided to return to session next week, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, citing constitutionally-mandated duties.
  • McConnell believes that the Senate can conduct its business safely, despite having only 100 members compared to 435 in the House.
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to "scrutinize" McConnell's safety guidelines, citing concerns for the protection of senators and workers.
  • Democrats are also calling for prioritizing oversight hearings on the administration's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The House of Representatives is set to return the week after next to advance another coronavirus relief package.
  • Democrats are troubled by the expectation that the Senate will move quickly to confirm a young District Court judge, Justin Walker, to the US Court of Appeals for the DC circuit.
  • McConnell has refused to weigh in on whether President Trump should pardon former National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn, who is seeking to be exonerated of charges related to lying to the FBI.

Statistics:

  • The Senate has 100 members, compared to 435 in the House of Representatives (Source: CNN).
  • Nearly 50% of the workforce in Washington, DC is African American (Source: CNN).
  • 86-year-old Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has called on McConnell to reverse course and cancel the plan to return to session (Source: CNN).
  • The US Court of Appeals for the DC circuit is often considered the second most powerful court in the country (Source: CNN).

Sources:

  • CNN, quoting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: "I think we can conduct our business safely. We've got a whole lot of other people showing up for work during the pandemic. It's time for the Senate to do that as well."
  • CNN, quoting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: "We are going to scrutinize Leader McConnell's plan very carefully to see if it does provide the needed protections for the staff and the workers who are here."
  • CNN, quoting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "We're not coming back next week. Our plan is to come back the following week."

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