Republicans in the House blocked the Democrats attempt to add to the COVID relief bill President Trump's request for $2,000 vs $600 per person.

Democrats blocked the House Republicans attempt to pass a reduction in foreign add to cover the Trump increase to the COVID aid.

The standoff threatens the COVID relief bill and a Trump veto looms if it is modified to his satisfaction and the calendar runs out next week.

What could possibly happen?

So now there are a number of things that the various supporters of the president are suggesting that he do. Some say he should veto this bill as he threatened to do last night. He did not say he was gonna veto it. He held out the possibility. There’s also the possibility of a pocket veto. The latest the current congressional session can end is 11:59 a.m. on January 3rd. That’s the drop-dead time for the 116th Congress, this current Congress. That’s when it ends. A president can in effect veto a bill by keeping it in his pocket, by not signing it. He doesn’t have to write “veto” on it. He puts it in his pocket, figuratively speaking, and it just dies there if it comes too close to the end of the congressional adjournment. Congress must adjourn without a return date specified no later than 11:59 p.m. ET January 3rd. Other words, Congress would have to get the president the bill by today to prevent a pocket veto.

Remember, as I’ve been pointing out, attached to the COVID bill is a $1.4 trillion spending package to fund the government through September 30th next year. If the president vetoes the COVID bill and the $1.4 trillion spending package or if he fails to sign it by December 28, there’s a government shutdown. We still have that to deal with, and the Democrats love when that’s on the table.

How President Trump could veto the COVID/omnibus spending bill...without ever raising his veto pen. It's called a "pocket veto." My explanation: https://t.co/etfnDJATXE

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 23, 2020

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