Tipsheet

Uh Oh: There’s a ‘Massive Drafting Error’ in the Senate Wuhan Coronavirus Relief Bill

Katie Pavlich
Katie Pavlich  |  March 25, 2020 1:47 PM

UPDATE: Senators say this problem is "easily fixable" and that the bill must maintain the connection/relationship between employers and employees.  

***Original post***

According Republican Senators Ben Sasse, Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, there is a "massive drafting error" in the current Senate Wuhan coronavirus relief bill that will derail its passage. 

"A massive drafting error in the current version of the coronavirus relief legislation could have devastating consequences: Unless this bill is fixed, there is a strong incentive for employees to be laid off instead of going to work," the Senators released Wednesday afternoon in a joint statement. "This isn’t an abstract, philosophical point -- it’s an immediate, real-world problem.  If the federal government accidentally incentivizes layoffs, we risk life-threatening shortages in sectors where doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are trying to care for the sick, and where growers and grocers, truckers and cooks are trying to get food to families' tables."

"This isn’t who we are as Americans; this isn’t what we do in a crisis. We must sadly oppose the fast-tracking of this bill until this text is addressed, or the Department of Labor issues regulatory guidance that no American would earn more by not working than by working," the statement continues. 

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The Senators will hold a press conference at 2:00 pm ET to further discuss and address the issue. 

The Senate bill is supposed to be voted on sometime today. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has added days to the process through extensive far-left demand, determined early Wednesday morning members will not vote today.