What’s the deal with stimulus checks? Throughout the last week COVID-19 economic relief has been debated, voted on, passed, rejected, and sent back to Congress by President Donald Trump.
It started Monday with the passage of a $900+ billion package, which included $600 economic relief payments to most Americans making less than $75,000. However, that bill was ultimately sent back to Congress after President Trump pushed back on the ‘wasteful spending’ and $600 checks to Americans that he called a disgrace.
From his point of view, the checks were too small. Hundreds of billions was in the bill that would have gone to other nations across the globe. While Republicans were comfortable spending that money in other parts of the world – they were unwilling to budget on larger checks to American constituents.
They cited a rising national debt as the major preventive measure in approving Trump’s demand for $2,000 checks.
On Christmas Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump is more committed than ever to increasing stimulus payments to Americans.
“After spending some time with President @realDonaldTrump today, I am convinced he is more determined than ever to increase stimulus payments to $2000 per person and challenge Section 230 big tech liability protection,” Graham tweeted.
At this point, the soonest possible action on any bill would come Monday. Trump is also holding up funding for the military as part of a defense spending package, which is not directly connected to the COVID-19 economic relief bill passed last week. The difference there is that the President wants to see social media networks held accountable, with added provisions to address how they manage their platforms. Critics on both sides of the aisle say the two are unrelated.
Democrats were ready to push $2,000 checks out to the American people; and on Monday are said to be prepared to introduce a standalone bill that will get checks out to the American people. At this point, it doesn’t seem likely that Republicans will get on-board with the standalone stimulus check bill. It’s also not clear if that would prompt President Trump to sign the former bill, passed by Congress last week resulting in $600 checks to be issued.
$2,000 stimulus checks killed by Congress as Republicans defy President Trump
https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2020/12/22/president-trump-calls-for-stimulus-boost-to-2000-immediately-says-600-a-disgrace/
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