Sole Republican congressman threatens to hold up coronavirus bailout plan with procedural move which would stop it being rushed to the Senate
- Rep. Louie Gohmert indicated Monday that he’d hold up the already-passed House coronavirus bill so it can’t quickly get a Senate vote
- Gohmert wrote ‘some of us believe that the newly worded laws should be finished before we pass them’
- He was responding to how House leadership was working on a package of corrections for the bill before shipping it to the Senate
- Gohmert was among the 40 Republicans who voted against the bill in the House early Saturday
- He made headlines recently for refusing to self-quarantine after being exposed to a man who tested positive for coronavirus after attending CPAC
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican, said Monday that he’ll hold up the already-passed House coronavirus bill, as Congress struggles to find a legislative fix to help Americans during the ongoing crisis.
‘We still do not have a final draft of the negotiated changes being called “technical corrections” and some of us believe that the newly worded laws should be finished before we pass them. #CoronaVirus,’ Gohmert tweeted Monday afternoon.
The House passed its bill early Saturday and on Monday leadership was working on a package of corrections when Gohmert signaled he’ll insist lawmakers vote on the new language – which is problematic because most members aren’t currently in Washington.
Rep. Louie Gohmert indicated he would hold up the House coronavirus package bill, which passed the chamber on Saturday, but is getting revised before moving on to the Senate
Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican who voted against the legislation, said he believed ‘newly worded laws should be finished before we pass them’
Both the House and Senate were supposed to be out of town this week.
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cancelled the Senate’s recess, knowing the upper chamber would have to vote to approve the House’s bill.
Now it looks like a vote on the House bill won’t happen in the Senate for several days.
That bill was the result of negotiations between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, articulating the White House’s point of view.
Still, some 40 Republicans voted against it, including Gohmert.
Gohmert already made coronavirus-related headlines, as he interacted with the person who tested positive for the virus who attended CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference.
While Reps. Mark Meadows – the incoming White House chief of staff – Paul Gosar, Matt Gaetz, Doug Collins and Sen. Ted Cruz decided to self-quarantine, Gohmert decided against it.
He said he got approval from a CDC doctor to return to work. ‘No one is panicking and we are observing the recommended precautions,’ he said, speaking for himself and his staff.
Upon his return, Gohmert was spotted giving Capitol Hill tours – including to a group of students.
He was not shaking hands with anyone.