Dem Leader Explains They're Not Meeting Before May 'Absent an Emergency'

Cortney O'Brien / Townhall Tipsheet

Does a pandemic that has killed thousands of people around the globe, shuttered the American economy and resulted in a nearly 20 percent unemployment rate qualify as an "emergency?" Not in the mind of Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. As he explained to the press on Monday, the House of Representatives would not be meeting again before May 4, "absent an emergency." They had initially planned to reconvene on April 20.

"Absent an emergency, the House is not expected to meet prior to Monday, May 4, 2020." -- Steny Hoyer email

— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 13, 2020

Cue our confused faces.

we're in a literal state of emergency

— Justin Satzman (@jsatz23) April 13, 2020

can someone please tell me how approaching 40% unemployment isn't an emergency https://t.co/bTZhvMpm5k

— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 13, 2020

Good thing people dying isn’t an emergency to them.

— Dog-faced Pony-boy ?? (@Rick05713768) April 13, 2020

Literally all 50 states are in a state of emergency.

— Zack (@ZackC428) April 13, 2020

Hoyer's statement comes after his fellow Democrats held up Phase Three of the congressional coronavirus relief effort because of a liberal wish list that included irrelevant environmental measures, and blocked an additional $250 billion for small businesses under the Payment Protection Program. Democrats said they want to include more money for hospitals and food stamps in the additional funding, but Republicans want to keep the focus on small businesses, many of whom have had to let go of their employees.

Yet Democrats are the ones accusing Republicans of "political posturing."