Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would not commit to granting President Trump’s request to increase stimulus checks sent directly to Americans to $2,000 and blocked Senator Bernie Sanders and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from putting the House bill up for quick consideration.
This led Trump to launch a Twitter assault against Senate Republicans, warning that “Unless Republicans have a death wish… they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP.”
Schumer’s request would have passed the bigger checks Tuesday afternoon and Sander’s request would have set a vote on the bill on the very next day.
Sen. Mitch McConnell objected to Sen. Schumer asking the Senate to pass by unanimous consent the $2000 direct payments bill that the House passed last night by 2/3 bipartisan vote.
— Jason Donner (@jason_donner) December 29, 2020
McConnell did address Trump’s need for “further direct financial support for American households” while speaking on the Senate floor and mentioned that the president wants Congress to direct their attention to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides certain protections for companies like Facebook and Twitter that share third-party content on their platforms. He also acknowledged that Trump wants Congress to take a closer look at election security.
“Those are the three important subjects the president has linked together,” he said. “This week the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus.”
McConnell did not directly commit to allowing Senate to vote on the $2,000 stimulus checks but if Trump gets his way the checks will go up for a vote.
Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough! https://t.co/GMotstu7OI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2020
In a tweet from President Trump Tuesday he argues, “$600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!”
