McConnell says the bill to increase stimulus checks to $ 2,000 “does not have a realistic way to pass the Senate quickly”

McConnell says the bill to increase stimulus checks to $ 2,000 “does not have a realistic way to pass the Senate quickly”

by
McConnell went to the Senate floor to attack the bill passed by the House, specifically on the issue of higher-income individuals and couples who would be eligible to receive some of the payments due to the way the income eliminations are structured.

The Kentucky Republican said the House bill “did not have a realistic way to pass quickly in the Senate” and said the Democratic-led effort deviated from that of President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pressured Republicans to approve checks expanded stimulus, really requested.

“The Senate will not be pressured to send more borrowed money into the hands of wealthy Democratic friends who do not need help,” said McConnell.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who pushed for an immediate vote on the measure, criticized McConnell’s position and urged Republicans to present the bill for a vote.

“At the very least, the Senate deserves the opportunity for a positive or negative vote,” said Schumer, adding that “there is no other game in town than the House bill.”

But McConnell also made it clear that nothing would advance the chamber that did not include Trump’s other two priorities: a total repeal of online liability protections and an investigation into alleged voter fraud.

“The Senate is not going to split the three issues that President Trump has linked,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.

McConnell on Tuesday introduced legislation that combined Trump’s three priorities – each a prerequisite for Trump to sign Covid’s relief and spending package earlier this week. Trump himself never specified that these three items should be tied.

But McConnell, in his comments on Wednesday, made it clear that the introduction of his legislation was in line with the Trump deal, which stipulated only to start the voting process on the issues.

McConnell moves to match potential Trump orders 'poison pill' for stimulus checks

As it currently stands, there are no polls scheduled for McConnell’s bill or legislation passed by the House, and Republican Party advisers say the 116th Congress is likely to end without any action on increasing direct payments.

The Kentucky Republican opened his speech on Wednesday by attacking Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders for holding the vote to override Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act.

“Today the Senate should end the legislation by guaranteeing critical tools, training and support for the United States armed forces,” he said. “But the junior senator from Vermont had other ideas.”

McConnell added: “The Senate will remain with this important bill until we complete it, in one way or another.”

Sanders said he will delay the NDAA’s annulment vote unless McConnell brings checks for $ 2,000 to the floor for voting. The final vote could go on until Saturday if Sanders continues to hold it. Eventually, although it will pass. It’s just a matter of how long it takes.

Ali Zaslav of CNN contributed to this report.

.Source