Politics Democrats will try to approve $2,000 direct checks, putting Republicans on the spot [Update: Republicans blocked it]

[tom_mai78101]

House Democrats will bring forward a bill to provide direct checks of $2,000 to individuals on Thursday, after President Trump called on Congress to amend a newly passed coronavirus relief bill to increase direct payments to $2,000, with $4,000 for a couple. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will try to pass the bill by unanimous consent — meaning that only one Republican member opposing the proposal needs to be present in order to block the bill.

Mr. Trump indicated in a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday that he would not sign the $900 billion relief package passed by both houses of Congress on Monday. The package provides $600 in direct payments for adults making up to $75,000 per year and children, with $2,400 for a family of four.

The president's demand comes after weeks of negotiations, with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin playing an active part in determining the final numbers before the relief bill and an omnibus spending package passed with overwhelming majorities. By holding a voice vote on Thursday, Democrats will attempt to call Mr. Trump's bluff and force Republicans to go on the record for their opposition to increasing direct payments from $600 to $2,000.

Republicans block Democratic effort to increase direct checks to $2,000

Republicans blocked a request by Democrats to pass the bill by unanimous consent.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Ghan]

This bill is a complete disaster.

 

[The Helper]

It is a political ploy the Republicans know Trump will veto it and they can say they tried and blame Trump. It all means nothing it is just the politicians using the media to direct our attention away from whatever else they are doing.

 

[Varine]

This is a dumpsterfire.

 

[tom_mai78101]

House Republicans block Democrats’ effort to advance $2,000 stimulus checks pushed by Trump

House Republicans on Thursday blocked an effort by House Democrats to approve $2,000 stimulus payments for millions of Americans. Democrats were seeking to advance the measure after President Trump demanded it Tuesday night, breaking with many of his fellow Republicans.

House Democratic leadership attempted to advance the measure by “unanimous consent,” but the effort was blocked by Republican leadership.

The political jostling, with no clear path forward, shows how Trump’s surprise refusal to sign a $900 billion relief bill into law has created a political and economic crisis in Washington.

Failure to pass the package could spell disaster for tens of millions of Americans and risk the broader U.S. economy at a perilous moment during the coronavirus pandemic. Unemployment benefits for 14 million Americans expire on Saturday. An eviction moratorium protecting as many as 30 million Americans is set to expire by the end of the month. The federal government will begin to shut down Tuesday if lawmakers do not approve an extension in funding.

The legislation is expected to be flown on Thursday to the president in Florida. Trump is in Mar-a-Lago for the Christmas break.


Read more here. (Washington Post)