President Biden on Thursday ignored a question about the timing of stimulus checks, after promising the American people earlier this year that he would receive checks for $ 2,000 immediately if Democrats won the Senate.
Fox News’s Peter Doocy asked Biden about this promise at the conclusion of an event in which the president made comments in celebration of 50 million doses of vaccines administered in the United States in 37 days.
“Mr. President, what happened to your promise seven weeks ago that if Democrats turned the Senate over, checks would come out the door?” You can hear Doocy asking.
Biden did not answer any questions from the media, but returned to the podium to retrieve his mask, which he seemed to have forgotten to put back.
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The president told voters during the campaign in Atlanta in January that checks for $ 2,000 would be imminent if Democratic candidates for the Senate won second-round contests.
“Their election will end the blocking in Washington of that $ 2,000 stimulus check – that money will go out the door immediately to help people who are in real trouble,” Biden told the crowd.
The two Democrats won runoff contests, effectively giving the party a majority in the Senate, considering that the tiebreak vote would be taken by Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Democrats are currently working on a $ 1.9 trillion aid package, which includes a $ 1,400 round of direct payments to American families. A vote in the House may take place in the coming days.
The package, which lacks bipartisan support, could move forward through an accelerated process known as budgetary reconciliation, whereby Democrats can pass certain spending measures without any Republican approval.
The legislation also includes help for state and local governments, money for vaccine distribution and increased unemployment benefits.
Lawmakers hope to approve the aid package in mid-March, when federal unemployment benefits are due to expire.