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A28 u.s. news
Diaranson 30 December 2020

Senate GOP blocks swift vote on Trump's $2K checks

Trump signed into law.

But the debate over the size
and scope of the package —
$900 billion in COVID-19
aid and $1.4 trillion to fund
government agencies — is
potentially one last confron-
tation between the president
and the Republican Party.
The new Congress is set to
be sworn in Sunday.
For now, the $600 checks are
set to be delivered, along with
other aid, among the largest
rescue packages of its kind.

The COVID-19 portion of
the bill revives a weekly pan-
demic jobless benefit boost
— this time $300, through
March 14 — as well as the
popular Paycheck Protection
Program of grants to busi-
nesses to keep workers on
payrolls. It extends eviction
protections, adding a new
(AP) — Senate Major- president's demand for the The GOP blockade may not funding bill into law. rental assistance fund.
ity Leader Mitch McCon- $2,000 checks and other re- be sustainable in the face of
nell on Tuesday blocked maining issues “into focus.” Trump's demands and as sen- As Trump spent days fuming Americans earning up to
Democrats' push to im- ators face the constituents at from his private club in Flor- $75,000 will qualify for the
mediately bring President The showdown has thrown home. ida, where he is spending the direct $600 payments, which
Donald Trump's demand Congress into a chaotic year- holidays, millions of Ameri- are phased out at higher in-
for bigger $2,000 COV- end session just days before The two GOP senators cans saw jobless aid lapse and come levels, and there's an
ID-19 relief checks up for new lawmakers are set to be from Georgia, David Per- the nation risked a federal additional $600 payment per
a vote, saying the chamber sworn into office for the new due and Kelly Loeffler, an- government shutdown Tues- dependent child.
would “begin a process” to year. It's preventing action on nounced Tuesday they sup- day.
address the issue. another priority — overturn- port Trump's plan for bigger Biden told reporters at an
ing Trump's veto on a sweep- checks as they face Demo- Dozens of Republicans cal- event Monday in Wilming-
Pressure is mounting on the ing defense bill that has been crats Jon Ossoff and Raphael culated it was better to link ton, Delaware, that he sup-
Republican-led Senate to fol- approved every year for 60 Warnock in runoff elections with Democrats to increase ported the $2,000 checks.
low the House, which voted years. that will determine which the pandemic payments
overwhelmingly on Monday party controls the Senate. rather than buck the outgo- Economists said a $600 check
to meet the president's de- The president's last-minute ing president and constitu- will help, but that it’s a far cry
mand to increase the checks push for bigger checks deeply “I’m delighted to support the ents counting on the money. from the spending power that
from $600 as the virus crisis divides Republicans, who president,” said Perdue on House Democrats led pas- a $2,000 check would provide
worsens. A growing number are split between those who Fox News. Loeffler said in sage, 275-134, but 44 Repub- for the economy, particularly
of Republicans, including align with Trump’s populist an interview on Fox that she, licans joined almost all Dem- into summer when vaccina-
two senators in runoff elec- instincts and those who ad- too, backs the boosted relief ocrats for a robust two-thirds tions are expected to have
tions on Jan. 5 in Georgia, here to what had been more checks. vote of approval. reached a wider swath of the
have said they will support traditional conservative views In the Senate, McConnell is population.
the larger amount. But most against government spend- Trump repeated his demand expected to be devising a way
GOP senators oppose more ing. Congress had settled on in a tweet ahead of Tuesday’s out of the bind, perhaps in- “It will make a big differ-
spending, even if they are smaller $600 payments in Senate session: ”$2000 for corporating two other issues ence whether it’s $600 versus
also wary of bucking Trump. a compromise over the big our great people, not $600!” Trump raised Sunday as he $2,000,” said Ryan Sweet, an
year-end relief bill Trump re- ultimately signed the massive economist with Moody’s.
The outcome is highly un- luctantly signed into law. Following Trump's lead, Re- package into law.
certain heading into the rare publican Sens. Josh Hawley Trump's delay in signing the
holiday-week session. Liberal senators led by Bernie of Missouri and Marco Ru- Trump repeated his frustra- bill stunned lawmakers, who
Sanders of Vermont who sup- bio of Florida, among the tions over the outcome of the thought they had the presi-
“There’s one question left to- port the relief aid are block- party's potential 2024 presi- presidential election, which dent's blessing after months
day: Do Senate Republicans ing action on the defense bill dential hopefuls, are pushing he lost to President-elect Joe of negotiations with his ad-
join with the rest of Amer- until a vote can be taken on the party in the president's Biden, as well as the ability ministration. Several sprang
ica in supporting $2,000 Trump's demand for $2,000 direction. of technology companies like into action to push him not
checks?" Senate Democratic for most Americans. Facebook and Twitter to reg- to stall aid during the holi-
leader Chuck Schumer said “We’ve got the votes. Let’s ulate content in ways Trump days.
as he made a motion to vote. "The working class of this vote today,” Hawley tweeted. believes are unfair.
country today faces more The president also objected
McConnell, who has said economic desperation than The House vote late Mon- “Those are the three impor- to foreign aid funding that
little publicly on Trump's at any time since the Great day was a stunning turn of tant subjects the president his own administration had
request, objected but gave Depression of the 1930s," events. Just days ago, during has linked together," McCo- requested and vowed to send
almost no indication of his Sanders said as he also tried a brief Christmas Eve ses- nnell said. Congress “a redlined ver-
plans ahead. to force a vote on the relief sion, Republicans blocked sion” with spending items he
checks. “Working families Trump's sudden demand for Trump's push could fizzle out wants removed. But those are
“The Senate will begin a pro- need help now.” But McCo- bigger checks as he defiantly in the Senate and do little to merely suggestions to Con-
cess," the GOP leader said. nnell objected a second time. refused to sign the broader change the COVID-19 relief gress. Democrats said they
He said he plans to bring the COVID-19 aid and year-end and federal spending package would resist such cuts.