lawmakers return to capitol hill
this week and were met with a
growing list of legislative
items to capital from funding
for Ukraine more covid relief,
there is a lot they are hoping
to accomplish.
As the political clock may be
running out.
For more are -- for more on all
of this, I am joined by Lisa
Desjardins.
As we just heard from Diane,
there is growing concern about
the economy, about growth and
inflation.
What does this say about what
congress is looking at?
Reporter: This is a major issue.
The problem is there is not much
congress can do to change the
short-term economy or address
short-term crisis.
Democrats want to let Americans
know that they are paying
attention and are concerned.
Emma Kratz unveiled something
they are trying to do today.
The idea coming out of the house
is to tackle asked prices
specifically.
As prices went up 20% in just a
few weeks in March.
Look at the gas prices here,
this is from California.
Nancy Pelosi is trying to move
through with her counterpart and
the senate a bill that would
deal with how oil and gas
companies -- what they charge.
They were recently accused of
prison -- price manipulation.
>> There is no excuse for big
oil companies to protect, to
profiteer, to price gouge or
exploit families.
Reporter: They want to get the
federal government more power to
look at how companies operate
and how to potentially penalize
That is another thing that would
have a long-term effect.
Nancy Pelosi does not want to
change the gas tax or a raise
that.
There is a bill about our
competitiveness with China.
The senate just moved to go to
conference which means we are
getting closer to seeing a final
bill on that.
The chips add is an important
technological issue but I think
we are weeks from seeing where
that goes.
Judy: And you have the request
for Ukraine.
We reported on the white house
request today for 33 billion
dollars.
Where does all of that stand?
Reporter: More action came
today.
As our viewers may know, the
president announced he wants
dirty $3 billion for Ukraine.
Senator Mcconnell said he is
likely to support that even
though it is a large number for
Republicans.
Problem is Democrats would also
like to get the covid funding
bell, $10 billion through but
Mcconnell is in the way of that
right now.
The issue is that Mcconnell has
not made a deal on the two
issues coming together.
Emma Kratz have decisions to
make.
We will understand more about
this in may.
Judy: Finally, the Biden agenda
overall.
A number of things he talked
about during the campaign last
year including the building back
better.
Reporter: So much to talk about
here.
Let me guide this.
We are still watching senator
Joe Manchin from West Virginia.
He is having talks with chuck
Schumer.
They talked on Monday.
Joe Manchin once a bill aimed at
deficit reduction.
He would increase corporate
taxes and he would use half of
that money to reduce the
deficit.
Saying, if you want my vote,
this is what I want in return.
Democrats could get some of
those original agenda items but
this is early days on that and
it is a longshot at this point
on whether any version of build
back under remains.
I think what I want to do
because it sometimes hurts my
own head.
I want to lay out for viewers
the chances of survival.
We put together this graphic.
It talks about the path ahead
for the different issues.
First of all, on the left side,
more likely, Ukraine funds.
Add is more likely to get
through congress in the coming
weeks.
More in the middle, talking
about covid funds.
That is a hot political issue.
Republicans do not trust
Democrats and politics are
involved.
In the middle, trickier, the
China competitiveness bill and
chips.
Unclear to see where that ends.
The longshots include things
that we were just talking about
including the Joe Manchin
deficit bill, building back
better, there is also the
potential of a climate bill that
Joe Manchin and Lisa murkowski
are working on.
I put those -- that on the long
shot.
Another problem is the clock is
running out.
Take a quick look at the
congress calendar.
May and June, these are the
weeks that the house and senate
are in session.
Five weeks.
Why do these months matter?
There -- it is a midterm
election year.
This is a huge election year.
Could our lawmakers do something
in September?
Yes.
Have they in recent years?
No.
Also in may and June, January 6
hearings in the house.
There is not a lot of oxygen on
capitol hill.
There is a lot to do and there
is not a lot of commonality and
a lot to do.
Judy: And the January 6 hearings
we think in the month of June.
Reporter: My sources tell me
June.
Judy: You don't have enough to
handle.
Reporter: We will keep track of
it.
Judy: Thank you very much.