McConnell Halts In-Person GOP Lunches Due to COVID-19 Concerns
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell put a pause to in-person GOP lunches due to health concerns following a surge in COVID-19 cases post-Thanksgiving.
The news was confirmed by The Hill on Saturday night through a senior Republican leadership aide.
654a"With the recent nationwide spikes, extra precautions are necessary to keep Senators and all campus staff as safe as possible," the aide said.
McConnell announced the cancellation of GOP lunches to his party on Saturday. It came alongside a rise of coronavirus cases among its own members.
Since May, the GOP lunches have been held in-person while social distancing in the Senate Hart building. On the other hand, Democrats held their caucus lunches over the phone.
GOP lunches will also be moving over the phone as Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Chuck Grassley of Iowa both tested positive for the coronavirus recently.
No Changes to Senate Amid Cancellation of GOP Lunches
Other than McConnell's decision, there are no other plans for changes in the Senate, reported Newsmax.
According to the aide, there have been no coronavirus cases connected to GOP lunches or activity at the Senate floor. Cancelling the caucus lunches was done only as a way to exercise caution, said a report from Axios.
Moving forward, Senate will still be voting in-person and will maintain its established protocols on social distancing, said a source for Politico.
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As part of the chamber's protection, its doors will be kept open and votes will be held open for a longer time frame.
Members were also encouraged to leave the floor after they have voted.
Senate Agenda Halted by Coronavirus
The pandemic and the absences that it gave the Senate led to unprecedented halts to its agenda recently.
An example is the chamber's inability to move forward with the nomination of Federal Reserve candidate Judy Shelton.
In part, this was because Scott and Grassley had to go through quarantine after exposure to the virus before they can get back to work.
Apart from Scott and Grassley there were also other Republicans who were hit by the virus: Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have all tested positive for the virus.
Lee and Tillis were reportedly infected after attending the White House Rose Garden ceremony for the nomination of now Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. The event was considered a "super-spreader" event.
Other Senators also tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, including Republican Senator of Montana Steve Daines and Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.
After leaving for their Thanksgiving break, Senators are expected to get back to work on Monday.
The majority leader is expected to continue driving the Senate into the confirmation of judicial and executive branch nominees.
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These nominees could possibly outlast the Trump administration and help push Republican agenda forward.
The Congress also faces a December 11 deadline to fund the government, otherwise current funds will run out and there will be a shutdown.
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