$2,000 stimulus checks: House approves higher coronavirus relief payment, moves to Senate
The Democratic-led House of Representatives on Monday approved $2,000 stimulus checks, a higher coronavirus relief payment that President Trump has pushed for after Congress OK’d $600 checks last week.
The bill for larger stimulus payments now moves to the Republican-led Senate, which has blocked higher checks in the past.
The House Monday evening passed the bill 275-134, barely getting the necessary two-thirds vote. Nearly all Democrats voted for it — except for two of the 233 Dems — while 44 Republicans voted Yes.
It is an odd end to Trump’s presidency, with Democrats and Trump on the same side, but Republicans apparently not going along with the president’s push for higher checks for Americans.
Trump, when signing the coronavirus relief bill on Sunday, called on Congress to increase the stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000.
The CASH Act for $2,000 stimulus checks could head to the Senate floor by Tuesday.
“I’m going to fight to pass the House’s bill to give Americans $2,000 checks in the Senate,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted. “Senate Republicans: Enough is enough. Americans need this help now.”
But it will be an uphill battle to get 60 votes for the bill in the Republican-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader McConnell has blocked higher checks in the past.
At least one Senate Republican, however, is in favor of increasing the checks. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Monday said he supports the $2,000 in direct payments.
“I share many of my colleagues’ concern about the long-term effects of additional spending, but we cannot ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief,” Rubio said in a statement. “Congress should quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $2,000.”
Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, called on Senate Republicans to join House Democrats and Trump in “supporting this critical assistance to American families.”
“Increasing the second round of economic impact payments to $2,000 will make a real difference for Americans experiencing extreme financial hardship,” Neal said in a statement. “Now that the House has approved these larger checks, it is up to Senate Republicans to do the same.”
Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark tweeted, “$2000 direct checks just passed in the House. Your turn, Mitch.”
Herald wire services were used in this report.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2WRwQa9
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