ATLANTA: US President-elect Joe Biden spoke with Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday (Dec 15) and said that the two agreed to meet soon, after the lawmaker ended his silence on the results of the presidential election held six weeks ago. McConnell congratulated Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory during remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday, a day after the Electoral College formalised the Democrats' Nov 3 win. The senator was among many congressional Republicans who had not acknowledged Biden's defeat of President Donald Trump, who has continued to make unfounded claims of election fraud and refused to concede. Biden told reporters he spoke with McConnell before heading to Georgia, where he will campaign for two Democratic US Senate candidates whose Jan 5 runoff elections could make or break his domestic policy agenda. "While we disagree on a lot of things, there are things we can work together on," Biden told reporters. … [Read more...] about Biden and McConnell talk after top Senate Republican acknowledges Democrat’s election win
Mitch mcconnell
US Congress to meet Sunday to vote on COVID-19 relief, spending package
WASHINGTON: The US Congress was poised to vote on Sunday (Dec 20) on a US$900 billion coronavirus aid package after senators struck a late-night compromise to clear one of the final hurdles, a dispute over Federal Reserve pandemic lending authorities. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters at the US Capitol late on Saturday night: "If things continue on this path and nothing gets in the way, we'll be able to vote tomorrow." Congressional leaders plan to attach the coronavirus aid package, which includes US$600 direct payments to individuals and a US$300 per week unemployment compensation supplement, to a US$1.4 trillion spending bill funding government programs through September 2021. They face a new government funding deadline of midnight on Sunday (0500 GMT Monday), risking a government shutdown without action. The House of Representatives was due to meet at noon ET (1700 GMT) to take up the bill. "I do have optimism that it'll pass," House Republican leader … [Read more...] about US Congress to meet Sunday to vote on COVID-19 relief, spending package
US Vice President Mike Pence receives COVID-19 vaccine
WASHINGTON DC: US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife received the COVID-19 vaccine live on television on Friday (Dec 18) in a public display designed to assure Americans that the vaccine is safe. "Building confidence in the vaccine is what brings us here this morning," Pence said after being injected at the White House, quipping: "I didn't feel a thing." “The American people can be confident: We have one, and perhaps within hours, two safe vaccines," he added, referring to the expected Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Moderna's vaccine. After US deaths from the coronavirus topped 3,000 for a third straight day, Pence called the vaccinations a sign of hope, with 20 million doses expected to be distributed nationwide before the end of December and hundreds of millions more going out in the first half of 2021. READ: Second US vaccine ready to ship after daily record 3,580 COVID-19 deaths Pence is the highest-profile recipient of a COVID-19 vaccine to … [Read more...] about US Vice President Mike Pence receives COVID-19 vaccine
Still no COVID-19 relief Bill as US Congress faces shutdown deadline
WASHINGTON: The US Congress looked increasingly unlikely on Friday (Dec 18) to meet a deadline to agree on US$900 billion in fresh COVID-19 aid and instead may pass a third stopgap spending Bill to keep the government from shutting down at midnight. After months of partisan finger-pointing and inaction, Republicans and Democrats have been negotiating intensely this week on what is expected to be the biggest package since spring to provide relief to a country struggling with a pandemic that has killed nearly 309,000 Americans. They have reported progress, but enough differences remained by late on Thursday that talks looked likely to stretch into the weekend. That would force Congress to pass a stopgap spending bill - known as a continuing resolution, or CR - to keep the government operating for a few days after current funding expires at midnight while talks continue. Congressional leaders plan to pass the COVID-19 aid as part of sweeping legislation to fund the government … [Read more...] about Still no COVID-19 relief Bill as US Congress faces shutdown deadline
As COVID-19 rages across US, Congress scrambles to reach relief deal
WASHINGTON: As the coronavirus pandemic roared to new record highs across the United States, it lit a fire in the US Congress, where Republicans and Democrats were scrambling to pass a new round of aid after months of partisan finger-pointing and inaction. Even as they contemplated passing a third stopgap measure to give them a few more days to agree on final amounts, lawmakers from both parties said COVID-19's worsening toll meant that failure to agree was no longer an option. Multiple lawmakers floated the possibility the federal government would run out of money early Saturday morning while the COVID-19 relief negotiations continue, if Congress is unable to pass a temporary government funding bill before Friday at midnight. The Senate's No 2 Republican, John Thune, said there could be an objection to passing such a stopgap measure from those who want to keep the pressure on for a deal on COVID-19 aid. "Government shutdowns are never good. If it's for a very short amount of … [Read more...] about As COVID-19 rages across US, Congress scrambles to reach relief deal