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Already Light, Legislative Menu Chopped Down by Impeachment Fight Already Light, Legislative Menu Chopped Down by Impeachment Fight
(17 days later)
WASHINGTON — Congress wasn’t doing much legislatively in this polarized environment. President Trump wasn’t exactly tearing through his policy to-do list, either. Now, with an explosive impeachment inquiry suddenly thrown into the mix, they are likely to do even less than the little they were already doing.WASHINGTON — Congress wasn’t doing much legislatively in this polarized environment. President Trump wasn’t exactly tearing through his policy to-do list, either. Now, with an explosive impeachment inquiry suddenly thrown into the mix, they are likely to do even less than the little they were already doing.
Despite protestations by lawmakers and some White House officials that they would be able to separate the escalating impeachment fight from their other duties, the bitter battle over Democrats’ attempt to oust the president, the time and attention consumed by the inquiry and related matters, and likely recriminations over the effort are certain to infect already stumbling efforts to make much legislative progress.Despite protestations by lawmakers and some White House officials that they would be able to separate the escalating impeachment fight from their other duties, the bitter battle over Democrats’ attempt to oust the president, the time and attention consumed by the inquiry and related matters, and likely recriminations over the effort are certain to infect already stumbling efforts to make much legislative progress.
“Anytime you start throwing around words like impeachment, everybody goes to their corner,” said Representative Tom Cole, a senior Republican from Oklahoma.“Anytime you start throwing around words like impeachment, everybody goes to their corner,” said Representative Tom Cole, a senior Republican from Oklahoma.
“It just takes time and energy, and it creates rankle,” he added of the impeachment fight. “Once you start this, I think you really are basically setting aside your legislative agenda.”“It just takes time and energy, and it creates rankle,” he added of the impeachment fight. “Once you start this, I think you really are basically setting aside your legislative agenda.”
With government divided between the Republican-controlled Senate, the Democrat-led House and an administration led by a mercurial president, the legislative menu was already light and expectations exceedingly low. Still, murmurs persisted about deals on gun safety, prescription drug pricing, a highway bill and a new trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada, along with the annual package of spending measures or extended stopgap funding. Now, even those potential accomplishments are in jeopardy in the heat of the impeachment inquiry. With government divided between the Republican-controlled Senate, the Democratic-led House and an administration led by a mercurial president, the legislative menu was already light and expectations exceedingly low. Still, murmurs persisted about deals on gun safety, prescription drug pricing, a highway bill and a new trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada, along with the annual package of spending measures or extended stopgap funding. Now, even those potential accomplishments are in jeopardy in the heat of the impeachment inquiry.
Mr. Trump himself on Wednesday threw cold water on the prospect of reaching any big-picture legislative agreements if Democrats, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, pressed ahead with their inquiry.Mr. Trump himself on Wednesday threw cold water on the prospect of reaching any big-picture legislative agreements if Democrats, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, pressed ahead with their inquiry.
“I don’t think they can do any deals,” Mr. Trump said in New York as he discussed trade proposals with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. “You know, we were working on guns — gun safety. They don’t even talk — all they’re talking about is nonsense.”“I don’t think they can do any deals,” Mr. Trump said in New York as he discussed trade proposals with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. “You know, we were working on guns — gun safety. They don’t even talk — all they’re talking about is nonsense.”
As his trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, looked on with concern, Mr. Trump also said he doubted that House Democrats would put the pending trade replacement for NAFTA to a vote, though winning approval is a top administration priority.As his trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, looked on with concern, Mr. Trump also said he doubted that House Democrats would put the pending trade replacement for NAFTA to a vote, though winning approval is a top administration priority.
Mr. Trump has previously said the Democrats had a choice between legislating and investigating, and he appears to be sticking to that position for the moment. Democrats said that stance would no doubt determine how far they could get on other issues given the impeachment furor.Mr. Trump has previously said the Democrats had a choice between legislating and investigating, and he appears to be sticking to that position for the moment. Democrats said that stance would no doubt determine how far they could get on other issues given the impeachment furor.
“We’re going to try to work on issues with our Republican colleagues, even with the president, when we can,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. “We believe we need to do something about guns. We believe we need to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. The $64,000 question is will the president want to work with us, given what happened. We shall see.”“We’re going to try to work on issues with our Republican colleagues, even with the president, when we can,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. “We believe we need to do something about guns. We believe we need to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. The $64,000 question is will the president want to work with us, given what happened. We shall see.”
The prospect of a compromise on new control gun laws could be the first casualty of the impeachment clash. The White House had already delayed the rollout of its awaited proposal, and administration officials have appeared torn on how far to go in responding to a spree of mass shootings in August.The prospect of a compromise on new control gun laws could be the first casualty of the impeachment clash. The White House had already delayed the rollout of its awaited proposal, and administration officials have appeared torn on how far to go in responding to a spree of mass shootings in August.
Getting any agreement on the highly charged issue was always going to be tough, even in a cooperative environment. Mr. Trump, angry over Ms. Pelosi’s new embrace of the impeachment inquiry, dismissed her on Wednesday, saying that she was no longer speaker in his mind and that she was “not interested in guns and protection and gun safety.”Getting any agreement on the highly charged issue was always going to be tough, even in a cooperative environment. Mr. Trump, angry over Ms. Pelosi’s new embrace of the impeachment inquiry, dismissed her on Wednesday, saying that she was no longer speaker in his mind and that she was “not interested in guns and protection and gun safety.”
Yet at the same time, Senator Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut, a leading Democratic voice on gun issues, said that a White House official had reached out to him on Tuesday night — just hours after Ms. Pelosi announced to the world that Mr. Trump’s conduct had been a “betrayal” and the House would pursue an impeachment inquiry because of it — to express hope that gun control negotiations could continue in the hope of sealing a deal.Yet at the same time, Senator Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut, a leading Democratic voice on gun issues, said that a White House official had reached out to him on Tuesday night — just hours after Ms. Pelosi announced to the world that Mr. Trump’s conduct had been a “betrayal” and the House would pursue an impeachment inquiry because of it — to express hope that gun control negotiations could continue in the hope of sealing a deal.
“I understand that will be very difficult, but I will take their outreach last night as sincere,” Mr. Murphy told reporters on Wednesday.“I understand that will be very difficult, but I will take their outreach last night as sincere,” Mr. Murphy told reporters on Wednesday.
Efforts to lower prescription drug costs are one area where Mr. Trump and House Democrats seemed to have more in common with one another than Senate Republicans. Both sides are advancing competing proposals, and one influential senator warned that it would be a major opportunity missed if the effort to reduce prices was lost in the impeachment dispute.Efforts to lower prescription drug costs are one area where Mr. Trump and House Democrats seemed to have more in common with one another than Senate Republicans. Both sides are advancing competing proposals, and one influential senator warned that it would be a major opportunity missed if the effort to reduce prices was lost in the impeachment dispute.
“With only a finite number of legislating weeks left in the year, it is absolutely critical that lawmakers capitalize on the unprecedented momentum and act now to take up, advance and pass these market-based solutions to hold Big Pharma accountable and lower prescription drug prices,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.“With only a finite number of legislating weeks left in the year, it is absolutely critical that lawmakers capitalize on the unprecedented momentum and act now to take up, advance and pass these market-based solutions to hold Big Pharma accountable and lower prescription drug prices,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
While Mr. Trump said his confidence about achieving congressional approval of a trade deal was faltering, others in the House and Senate said an opening still existed, though they cautioned it might have to await the outcome of the impeachment inquiry. The White House and House Democrats have been exchanging proposals on the trade deal and reported progress, but Ms. Pelosi has refused to make a commitment on a floor vote.While Mr. Trump said his confidence about achieving congressional approval of a trade deal was faltering, others in the House and Senate said an opening still existed, though they cautioned it might have to await the outcome of the impeachment inquiry. The White House and House Democrats have been exchanging proposals on the trade deal and reported progress, but Ms. Pelosi has refused to make a commitment on a floor vote.
Even as Mr. Trump played down expectations on Wednesday, Mr. Lighthizer quietly said he was “confident it will pass.”Even as Mr. Trump played down expectations on Wednesday, Mr. Lighthizer quietly said he was “confident it will pass.”
One senator said that the impeachment struggle could conceivably enhance the prospects for the trade deal, as Democrats look for ways to shore up moderate Democrats in swing districts where the popularity of the agreement could compensate for unrest over impeachment. One congressional veteran noted President Bill Clinton achieved one of his top trade priorities — normalizing trade relations with China — in 2000 after he was impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate.One senator said that the impeachment struggle could conceivably enhance the prospects for the trade deal, as Democrats look for ways to shore up moderate Democrats in swing districts where the popularity of the agreement could compensate for unrest over impeachment. One congressional veteran noted President Bill Clinton achieved one of his top trade priorities — normalizing trade relations with China — in 2000 after he was impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate.
As for the spending bills technically due in the next few days, members of both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees said they expected their work to continue, albeit on a more challenging path.As for the spending bills technically due in the next few days, members of both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees said they expected their work to continue, albeit on a more challenging path.
“We have our work to do,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey, Democrat of New York and the chairwoman of the House panel, “and those who are working on the inquiry have their work to do.”“We have our work to do,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey, Democrat of New York and the chairwoman of the House panel, “and those who are working on the inquiry have their work to do.”
Whether Congress and the White House can work together will depend somewhat on how rapidly the impeachment inquiry unfolds. Yet with an election year looming when legislative success can be scant, there was still hope among some.Whether Congress and the White House can work together will depend somewhat on how rapidly the impeachment inquiry unfolds. Yet with an election year looming when legislative success can be scant, there was still hope among some.
“He has an obligation, we have an obligation,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Wednesday, noting that voters “elected a Republican president, a Republican Senate, and a Democratic House.”“He has an obligation, we have an obligation,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Wednesday, noting that voters “elected a Republican president, a Republican Senate, and a Democratic House.”
“It’s incumbent upon all of us to try to meet our responsibilities to accomplish the objectives,” he added.“It’s incumbent upon all of us to try to meet our responsibilities to accomplish the objectives,” he added.
But both parties now have new objectives arising from the impeachment inquiry, and they are liable to get in the way of the legislative ones.But both parties now have new objectives arising from the impeachment inquiry, and they are liable to get in the way of the legislative ones.