Without a Leader, Commission Watching Over COVID-19 Relief Struggles
Several weeks following the release of Congress of over $2 trillion to in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the oversight commission formed to monitor how the funds are spent, remains with no leader.
Relatively, four of five Congressional Oversight Commission members have been selected. Nevertheless, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, both, have not approved of a that left the commission rudderless while the federal government drives exceptional amounts into the economy.
Essentially, minus the leader, the remaining members of the panel can do some oversight work still, although they cannot employ staff, or set up a workspace.
More so, the four members, according to reports, have not met yet as a group, since the passage and signing of the economic rescue law by Congress and President Donald Trump respectively, in late March.
Harvard Law School law and economics professor, John Coates said, if the commission is not effectively working, which, he emphasized, is not, "then, there is no oversight" on a large part of the particular law mentioned.
Panel Created
Congress formed the panel so it can closely monitor the "$500 billion in lending to troubled sectors" supported by the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve. In addition, according to the Fed, the funds can be leveraged to provide over $2 in loans to American businesses.
However, in the absence of a leader, the activity of the panel is now just limited to Twitter posts and letters by each of the commissioners.
McConnel and Pelosi's failure to agree on the so-called "oversight head" is the most recent instance of a "broken Congress," marked by polarization and partisanship.
And, even if both parties acknowledge the essentiality of watching over an expansive economic rescue law, politicians are restrained by a larger fight in politics without resolution instantly imminent.
Meanwhile, Project on Government Oversight executive director Danielle Brian said, the lack of leader of the oversight panel almost two months following the adoption of the emergency law is "disappointing but not surprising."
Brian said, seeing the manner Congress is operating, it would be challenging to "to see McConnel and Pelosi" both approving of an "appointee in the near term," considering their degree of mutual distrust.
The director also added that the clash between the two government leaders far exceeds this specific concern." However, Brian added, oversight needed not to suffer due to the two's leaders' dispute.
Pelosi and McConnell's Stance
Representatives for the two government leaders said they don't have any update as to when the position for the oversight would be filled.
However, Pelosi earlier told the media that she has been talking to McConnell with the hope that a decision would be made soon.
Meanwhile, the two have been known, to have been involved in a high-profile word war over a new rescue law amounting to $3 trillion which the House Democrats pushed.
McConnell, for her part, called the Democrats' bill a liberal wish list of 1,800 pages while Pelosi, on the other hand, criticized the former, as well as the other Republicans who have claimed they wanted to refrain from having more relief spending.
Incidentally, the House already approved on Friday, the Bill, planning the negotiations with the Senate Republicans and the White House that could reportedly continue for weeks.
Check these out!
Subscribe to Latin Post!
Sign up for our free newsletter for the Latest coverage!