The Chuck And Nancy Show

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are moving ahead with plans for the big COVID-19 relief package having sufficiently learned the lesson that given the opportunity to block, delay, obfuscate or deny something that helps the American people, the GOP will take advantage of it as much as they can, and Dems have finally learned that only ruthless, bare-knuckle hardball will beat Republicans.

In separate remarks Thursday, the top two congressional Democrats said time is of the utmost importance as the virus continues to maintain its deadly — and potentially economically disastrous — grip on the U.S.

“We want it to be bipartisan always but we can’t surrender if they’re not going to be doing that,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference. “We cannot not have it happen, we have to act.”

Schumer said earlier Thursday morning that “only big bold action is called for,” given the slowdown in the economy. President Joe Biden has pitched a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan that would also raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, a package that most Republicans have already rejected.

Centrist lawmakers in both chambers have maintained that a bipartisan deal is possible if congressional leadership will make space for one to be negotiated. But senior Democrats are increasingly dismissive of the possibility.

Republicans complained that Democrats were looking to short-circuit Biden’s bipartisan approach too soon.

“That would be a big mistake this early on. And I think they ought to attempt to try to do it the other way,” said Senate Minority Whip John Thune.

If they can keep party unity, Democrats can approve coronavirus legislation without GOP support via budget reconciliation. And Schumer gave some of his strongest indications yet that this could happen soon, starting with passage of a budget resolution that unlocks reconciliation’s power.

“The Senate, as early as next week, will begin the process of considering a very strong Covid relief bill. Our preference is to make this important work bipartisan, to include input, ideas and revisions from our Republican colleagues,” Schumer said. “But if our Republican colleagues decide to oppose this urgent and necessary legislation, we will have to move forward without them.”

After Mitch dicked them around for the last eight years, I'm glad that Democrats aren't caving. They know full well that they single reason they have power is because people voted for their campaign agenda, especially in Georgia, Arizona, and Colorado where they gained seats.

Dems have to deliver, and they're finally ready to do it.