GOP’s Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocks the efforts to $2000 stimulus payment by introduced legislation combining two additional demands from President Donald Trump to an expansion of direct stimulus payments as part of the Covid-19 relief package. The move raised concerns in democrats that the Stimulus payments can be raised concern in Democrats of the pathway for expanded stimulus payments would soon be short-circuited. Mitch McConnell,shortly before adjourning the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, introduced a bill that would combine increased direct payments with repeal of the social media company’s liability protections known as Section 230 and the establishment of a commission to study voter fraud. This move all but assures the $2,000 checks fail, by forcing lawmakers to approve the medley of policies together or shoot all three down. Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Josh Hawley of Missouri are also behind the push to expand the payments, with Hawley playing a central role in pushing the issue to the forefront.
Responding earlier Tuesday to McConnell’s blocking of the payments increase that Schumer tried to advance, President Trump tweeted, “Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH!” “Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.,on Tuesday moved to pass the bill by unanimous consent, which meant it would advance if no other senator objected. But McConnell quickly objected to the measure, which would have increased the size of the checks to $2,000 from $600. After Schumer’s bid failed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., threatened that he will try to force McConnell’s hand by delaying a separate vote this week to override Trump’s veto of the annual defense authorization bill. “If Senator McConnell doesn’t agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Year’s Eve” Sander also said.
Chuck Schumer said “Throughout this pandemic, working Americans have been taking it on the chin,” he added. “Right now, they’re facing their hardest and their darkest days. Tens of millions have lost their jobs. Tens of millions are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.”
McConnell also said on Tuesday, the Senate would vote to “re-approve” a major military authorization bill vetoed by Trump, setting up the first override of his presidency after the House achieved the two-thirds threshold needed for that on Monday.
McConnell said all three are “important subjects,” and “we will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus,” but provided no further details.
McConnell, with this alternative bill, is tying all of Trump’s demands into a single piece of legislation. While aides say it’s unclear if the bill will actually come up — there remains a possibility the 116th Congress comes to an end with no action at all — should it do so, it would serve as a way to address the President’s issues and give the two Georgia Republican senators in tight runoffs something to vote for.
With two politically endangered GOP senators’ just days away from runoff elections — Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia — announcing their support for Trump’s push for $2,000 checks.
The stimulus payments are the life-line at this time of high joblessness as millions of Americans struggle to pay rent and buy food in the pandemic.
