Can Senate Handle Trump’s Impeachment And A New Stimulus Package At Once? - Forbes

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Topline

As President-elect Biden pushes Congress to deliver aid to struggling Americans as quickly and as efficiently as possible, lawmakers are also preparing for President Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, and despite assurances from top Democrats that the Senate can give equal attention to both urgent priorities, it’s not yet clear whether that will be possible.

Key Facts

President-elect Biden laid out his plans last week for an ambitious $1.9 trillion spending program aimed at combating the twin public health and economic crises, calling on Congress to “act now” to implement the stimulus proposals and to confirm nominees to his administration, which he says are his first priority.

Asked in a Sunday interview on NBC’s Meet the Press whether Trump’s impeachment trial should be delayed so the Senate can focus on stimulus and filling out the administration in Biden’s 100 days, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said, “we need to do both at the same time,” adding that it would be “constitutionally dangerous” to hold off on impeachment proceedings.

In an interview with NPR on Thursday, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also acknowledged the challenge of juggling multiple priorities in the Senate but was optimistic it would be possible: “We know how to multitask,” she said. “That's what's going to be required.”

Biden has spoken with lawmakers in Congress about splitting time in the Senate each day once he takes office to “bifurcate” passing economic relief and confirming his nominees along with impeachment efforts.

Biden has said he’ll need to hear from the Senate parliamentarian, the official advisor on the Senate’s rules and procedures, about whether it will be possible to split the Senate’s time, but there’s no indication yet that the matter has been resolved.

After delivering prepared remarks about his sweeping stimulus plan Thursday evening, Biden did not respond to a shouted question about whether he had heard from the parliamentarian that the bifurcation effort would be feasible.

Key Background

In general, all Senate business ceases once articles of impeachment are sent to that chamber from the House and an impeachment trial begins. During that time, other legislative or executive business cannot occur unless the chamber meets in a separate session that could require unanimous consent to convene.

What We Don’t Know

The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump last week, but it’s not clear when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will send the matter to the Senate and trigger a trial. Some Democrats have suggested holding back the impeachment article for Biden’s first 100 days to let lawmakers focus on Biden’s rescue agenda first.

Crucial Quote

Brian Deese, Biden’s incoming director of the National Economic Council, said in an interview on FOX News Sunday that “we think there's every reason that we can move forward and address multiple issues” and acknowledged that the U.S. is facing “multiple crises.” Deese said the Biden team’s focus will be finding a way to allow the Senate to “move forward with an impeachment hearing while at the same time holding hearings, operating other business.”

Surprising Fact

Juggling an impeachment trial and essential legislative business is not a new challenge in Washington. During the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1998, Congress passed a few of the sitting president’s priorities, but in general Capitol Hill was singularly focused on the trial. “It’s fair to say if you look at the period, particularly in 1998, Congress was not in a great mood to be passing big legislation,” John Podesta, who was Clinton’s chief of staff during his impeachment, told Vice News.