The legislative drama regarding President Biden’s stimulus bill has been played out before – in Washington, Annapolis, and every legislative body.

Frustrated and believing Democrats were being strung along, Mr. Obama in September 2009 summoned Mr. Grassley to the White House along with Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana [to discuss the Affordable Care Act]…

Mr. Obama recounted the scene in his new memoir, writing that he had pressed Mr. Grassley on whether, “if Max took every one of your latest suggestions, could you support the bill?” Mr. Grassley was hesitant. “Are there any changes — any at all — that would get us your vote?” Mr. Obama asked, drawing what he described as an awkward silence from the Republican senator.

“I guess not, Mr. President,” Mr. Grassley eventually responded.

As they plunge forward this year, Democrats say they do not want to find themselves in a similar position, working with Republicans only to come up short with an insufficient response that does not draw bipartisan support.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/politics/democrats-agenda-coronavirus-economy.html

Former Delegate Paul Weisengoff put it to me this way: “If your amendments get on the bill, you have to vote for the bill as well.”

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When you introduce legislation, you have to answer this question: “Why do we need this bill?”

Last week, I sent a colleague a newspaper article about an issue that directly related to a bill before his committee.

Today, he responded: “Would this be prevented under existing law?”

I’m working on a response – with the people who testified for my bill.