On Wednesday, after Trump again insisted on “$ 2,000 ASAP!” in a tweet, McConnell said the proposal “had no realistic way to move quickly through the Senate” and refused to split the White House’s legislative wish list into separate measures. But that is exactly what Graham pressured the Republican leader to do on Thursday.
“Here’s what I would like: I would like an independent vote in the new Congress on the $ 2,000 check,” said Graham. “We have seven Republicans who have said they would vote for it. We need five more. I think if we had a vote, we would get there. “
The president, Graham added, “wants three things: a commission to investigate fraud, checks for $ 2,000 and to repeal Section 230. I am asking Senator McConnell to give an independent vote in the new Congress after January 3 on all three measures. “
Graham is likely to get little support for the proposal, even after the new Congress meeting on Monday. Later on Thursday morning, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – another president’s Republican ally – resigned from the prospect of $ 2,000 payments, citing concerns about national debt and the need for more targeted relief.
“I know it looks good, it’s good to donate money. Everyone loves benefits, ”Johnson told CNBC. “[But] someone must be thinking about … the effect of this on our future generations. “