After President Donald Trump signed a COVID-19 stimulus package on Sunday night, lawmakers on both sides of the political corridor immediately pushed for a new vote to get checks for $ 2,000 to Americans amid the worsening pandemic.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the $ 900 billion bipartisan stimulus bill and a $ 1.4 trillion spending bill after both Congressional chambers approved the measures earlier this week after several months of stalled negotiations. The president opposed the deal, calling it “shame”, for including only “a measly $ 600” in direct payments. “I just want to give our great people $ 2,000,” he tweeted on Saturday. But he backed off on Sunday and signed the bill on his property in Mar-a-Lago, narrowly avoiding government shutdown.
The president said Republicans agreed to a new $ 2,000 stimulus check vote. “On Monday, the House will vote to increase payments to individuals from $ 600 to $ 2,000,” he wrote in a statement announcing his decision. “Therefore, a family of four would receive $ 5,200.”
Some Republican lawmakers joined Democrats to promote voting on $ 2,000 stimulus checks on Sunday. Others have already expressed opposition to the increase in direct payments, indicating that the party may officially break with Trump in the coming days.
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Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a loyal to Trump who publicly supported higher payments after spending time with the president at his Florida golf club at Christmas, applauded the signing. “Congress will vote on additional stimulus checks and revoke Section 230 – all victories for the American people,” he tweeted. “Very well, Mr. President!”
“@realDonaldTrump tonight says the Senate leadership has promised votes on bills to increase #covid relief payments to $ 2,000 for workers AND close down # Section230. Let’s vote!” said GOP Congressman Josh Hawley of Missouri.
Most Republican senators, including Senate majority leader Mitch Mitch McConnell, remained silent about Trump’s sudden demand to fatten checks. Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent, asked Trump to convince Republicans to support the move on Sunday.
“Finally. Now, Trump must get Mitch McConnell and his Republican friends in the Senate to pass legislation that provides $ 2,000 in direct payments to the working class,” tweeted Sanders.
Progressive MP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez echoed Sanders’ remark. “Great, now he can sign @RashidaTlaib and changing I to bring checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000, “she tweeted.
“The House is going to pass a bill to give Americans checks for $ 2,000. So I’m going to propose its approval in the Senate. No Democrats will object. Will the Senate Republicans?” Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer tweeted.
It remains to be seen whether Senate Republicans will approve direct payments of $ 2,000. On Thursday, House Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats in the lower house to unanimously approve checks for $ 2,000, an expected move, as opposition from tax-conservative lawmakers had initially limited payments to the US $ 600 – half the amount of $ 1,200 predicted for Americans under the CARES Act before this year.
McConnell applauded “Trump’s decision to” take hundreds of billions of dollars of crucial relief from COVID-19 into the hands of American families “on Sunday night, but did not mention the new vote.
Newsweek contacted Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell for additional comments.