Senate Republicans Are Focused On Targeted Proposals For COVID Relief …
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “The House of Representatives is spending this week on pressing issues like marijuana. You know, serious and important legislation befitting this national crisis. But here in the Senate, I put forward a serious and highly targeted relief proposal including the elements which we know the President is ready and willing to sign into law. Why should these impactful and non-controversial life preservers be delayed one second longer?” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 12/03/2020)
… But Over In The House, Speaker Pelosi And House Democrats Are Chronically Prioritizing Marijuana Legislation Over COVID Relief
“The main bill on the House floor this week is a measure to decriminalize marijuana and provide a process for expunging marijuana-related convictions. The chamber will also take up several bills under suspension of the rules, including a bill to ban breeding and private ownership of big cats that was featured in the infamous Netflix show ‘Tiger King.’” (Roll Call, 12/01/2020)
· “JUST NOW: The House of Representatives finished debating the rule under which a federal marijuana legalization bill will be considered. Vote on the rule comes later today, then debate and vote on the cannabis legislation itself tomorrow.” (Marijuana Moment’s Tom Angell, @tomangell, Twitter, 12/03/2020)
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): “They do not share our values.” (CNN’s “Situation Room,” 10/13/2020)
· “Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association, said the pandemic, civil unrest and enacting a federal budget are among the more pressing issues for Americans at the moment. ‘You’re telling me that legalizing marijuana is a higher priority than all those things?’ Thompson said.” (“Marijuana Vote Poses November Risk For Democrats,” Politico, 9/09/2020)
The Last Time Speaker Pelosi Prioritized Marijuana Legalization Over Assistance For Americans, Some Rank-And-File House Democrats Revolted
“Centrist Democrats are pushing House Democratic leadership to pull legislation expected to reach the House floor next week that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. The Democrats are expressing frustrations the bill is slated to come to come up for a vote before other pressing matters. Specifically, a number of front-line members have raised concerns about the optics of holding a vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act before a coronavirus stimulus package and a government funding bill are passed.” (“Moderate Democrats Push Leadership To Pull Marijuana Legislation,” The Hill, 9/15/2020)
REP. SCOTT PETERS (D-CA): “At a time when people are really struggling just to pay the bills and to get through this health crisis, [COVID relief] should be our priority.” (“Moderate Democrats Push Leadership To Pull Marijuana Legislation,” The Hill, 9/15/2020)
“Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy of Florida said the [marijuana decriminalization] vote was postponed ‘because we still have to stay laser-like focused on the COVID package.’” (“House Postpones Vote To Decriminalize Marijuana Until After Election,” Roll Call, 9/17/2020)
A SENIOR DEMOCRATIC AIDE: “This is the month when the Democratic Caucus is giving its closing arguments to the American people about what their priorities are and how they’re going to govern. And prioritizing weed smokers over funding the government and providing relief to families and small businesses doesn’t make much sense to the American people.” (“Moderate Democrats Push Leadership To Pull Marijuana Legislation,” The Hill, 9/15/2020)
· “‘We can’t fund the government, we can’t fix Covid, but yet we can pass weed,’ said one Democratic aide, summing up the frontliners’ anxieties.” (“Vulnerable Dems Anxious Over Stalled Covid Talks,” Politico, 9/10/2020)
FLASHBACK: Even When House Democrats Did Put Forward Aid Proposals, Both Versions Of Their Bloated, Partisan Bill Were Full Of Unrelated Marijuana Provisions
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “Speaker Pelosi’s latest offering still does not include a single cent of new money for the Paycheck Protection Program, to help small businesses that are going under. It does nothing to help schools, universities, doctors, nurses, or employers avoid frivolous lawsuits. But the House did find room to provide special treatment to the marijuana industry. Their bill mentions the word ‘cannabis’ more times than the words ‘job’ or ‘jobs.’” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 9/30/2020)
The HEROES Act allowed cannabis businesses to work with federally backed banks and insurers …
· PAGES 1088-1089: “SEC. 110606. SAFE BANKING. … The purpose of this section is to increase public safety by ensuring access to financial services to cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers…” (H.R. 6800, 116th Congress)
… And so did House Democrats’ second bill:
· PAGE 1688: “SEC. 606. SAFE BANKING. … The purpose of this section is to increase public safety by ensuring access to financial services to cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers…” (House Rules Committee Print 116–66, House Amendment To The Senate Amendment To H.R. 925, 9/29/2020)
The HEROES Act required banking regulators and the GAO to issue diversity reports for cannabis-related businesses …
· PAGE 1100: “(h) ANNUAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REPORT.— The Federal banking regulators shall issue an annual report to Congress containing— (1) information and data on the availability of access to financial services for minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses…” (H.R. 6800, 116th Congress)
· PAGE 1100: “(i) GAO STUDY ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.—(1) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study on the barriers to marketplace entry, including in the licensing process, and the access to financial services for potential and existing minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses.” (H.R. 6800, 116th Congress)
… And so did House Democrats’ second bill:
· PAGES 1699-1700: “(i) GAO STUDY ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.— (1) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study on the barriers to marketplace entry, including in the licensing process, and the access to financial services for potential and existing minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses.” (House Rules Committee Print 116–66, House Amendment To The Senate Amendment To H.R. 925, 9/29/2020)
· PAGE 1699: “(h) ANNUAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION REPORT.— The Federal banking regulators shall issue an annual report to Congress containing— (1) information and data on the availability of access to financial services for minority-owned and women-owned cannabis-related legitimate businesses.” (House Rules Committee Print 116–66, House Amendment To The Senate Amendment To H.R. 925, 9/29/2020)