Moderate Dems’ willingness to push Pelosi faces test

That is certainly the signal Democratic leaders are sending. “Our unity served us well yesterday.  Our unity will again serve us well in the ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts,” Pelosi said this week in a “Dear Colleague” letter regarding their positioning on the continuing resolution the chamber passed and sent over to the Senate.

“I would hope that no Democrat would sign a discharge petition, which turns over control of the House floor to the other party, the minority party,” House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer told reporters Wednesday.

“But what I hope they would do is urge that we pass a bill which reflects, perhaps, a substantial reduction in what we thought was necessary, but nevertheless, dealing with all of the issues that are critical if we're going to confront COVID-19 …  in a comprehensive package,” the Maryland Democrat added.

Hoyer seemed to be encouraging members to pressure Pelosi to allow the House to vote a compromise bill, even if Senate Republicans and the White House don’t engage.

Pelosi has on numerous occasions offered to compromise with the GOP on a $2.2 trillion package, halfway between House Democrats’ $3.4 trillion bill passed in May and Senate Republicans’ original $1 trillion proposal.  But the White House has only shown willingness to go as high as the $1.5 trillion the Problem Solvers proposed and Pelosi has dismissed that as inadequate.