I’m sorry the time for the HEROS act has passed, but the need for it has not. It is clear that Leader McConnell is only interested in power games. So use that and turn it around. You are the only one left in Washington willing and able to act before January 20th.
Play your own power games. Look at the Heroes act, where we are today and break it apart and pass multiple targeted actions. But do so in such a way as it will cause pain to McConnell. Use the coming CR, the Georgia elections, and the broad popular acknowledgement something has to happen to get us to the vaccine general roll out. It is clear the both the Trump Administration and the GOP Caucus are doing all they can to hamper the incoming Biden Administration and that McConnell is setting up his team for the coming battles, for the sake of the country you have to hit back now.
Get your team together and target the rollout to make the votes for Purdue and Loeffler as painful as possible. But the key is to keep each package as simple as possible. They should also follow a clear path that starts with a clear need, a broad footprint (that has a clear way to show Rural America the need), that includes a mechanism to allow the money to take some of the burden off State and local Government, and that will be in place long enough to allow the incoming administration an entry ramp and room to amend the implementation.
That is not to say that these individual actions cannot be paired as long as there is a clear logical connection. For example, a Vaccination support bill, that includes special help for Tribal, Rural, and stressed Urban hospitals. Can logically be paired with The RESTAURANTS Act as they will be at the bottom of the tiers during the rollout and the businesses most effected while it is happening. Just include enough to make it a tough vote for the Republicans.
You have to make it clear that two can tango and McConnell’s games can have consequences. But make sure your caucus has clear talking points for each of the actions. Also keep them coming, but spaced enough so they don’t step on each other.
With your narrow control of the House you have to setup the dynamic so that the path flows through the coming administration and get your young guns pointed at 2022. This term has got to be more tactical.