Rush to Pass Virus Aid Bolsters Clout of Capitol Hill Leadership

The lead-up to the most recent coronavirus relief package didn’t include committee hearings, time for extensive reviews by lawmakers, or lengthy floor debates. A handful of top House and Senate leaders patched together the $2 trillion measure behind the scenes and presented it to their rank-and-file as a done deal.

With most members still out of town, leaders are planning for another lightning round Thursday to approve hundreds of billions more with little debate.

The push to quickly address the economic and health effects of the virus is accelerating the consolidation of power on Capitol Hill, experts say. While this ...