President Tests Positive

The biggest news out of Washington D.C. this week is, of course, the President testing positive for COVID-19.  How this will impact, if at all, the administrations’ work with Congress or Congressional activities has yet to be seen.  The President often hosts gatherings for Republican members of Congress at the White House. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) also announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 this week.

Continuing Resolution

Before his diagnosis, however, the President signed into law a fiscal year 2021 continuing resolution (CR), after the Senate passed it on Wednesday. This CR keeps the government open until December 11.

COVID-19 Relief Package

Back and forth negotiations on a COVID-19 relief package continued this week between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, to no avail. The two parties have also been at odds over additional aid for state and local governments — a Democratic push — and Republican demands for liability protections for businesses and schools. The House of Representatives passed a $2.2 trillion package late Thursday, in an additional attempt to put pressure on the White House and the Senate to support additional relief. Talks were scheduled to continue today.