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Congressional Update

By Doug MacGillivray posted 10-29-2020 10:56 AM

  
In the final week before elections, Congress remained mostly out of session except for a rare Sunday and Monday Senate session to confirm now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. The Senate voted 52-48 in favor of Barrett, with Susan Collins (R-Maine) as the lone Republican voting no. Collins cited the vote's proximity to elections for her no vote. This brings the Supreme Court back to its full complement of nine justices.

Outside of the nomination vote, both chambers remained in recess as Members make their final push ahead of elections. Speaker Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin continued to negotiate a COVID-19 aid package. Talks seemed to be progressing and both sides hinted that a deal may be imminent. Yet, rather unsurprisingly, both sides failed to close the gap and an agreement fell through yet again. In a letter to Secretary Mnuchin, Speaker Pelosi outlined where differences remain. These included state and local aid, schools, liability, unemployment insurance, childcare, and working families tax credits. It remains to be seen whether a deal will be reached by the end of the year.

For questions on this article, please contact Doug MacGillivray of APGA staff by phone at 202-544-1334 or by email at dmacgillivray@apga.org.

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