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McConnell said checks were ‘linked’ with other Trump priorities

Tyler Olson | Fox News — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 11:22:52 +0000

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the Senate will address President Trump’s request to increase stimulus checks sent to Americans to $2,000, but did not commit to pushing the issue as he blocked attempts by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to put the House bill on $2,000 stimulus checks up for quick consideration.

That led Trump to launch a Twitter broadside against Senate Republicans, warning them that if they don’t have a “death wish” they’ll back the boosted checks.

Schumer’s request would have passed the stimulus checks Tuesday afternoon. Sanders’ request would have set a vote on the bill for stimulus checks Wednesday afternoon.

Jason Donner@jason_donner

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.

Speaking on the Senate floor, McConnell acknowledged that Trump “would like further direct financial support for American households.” He also mentioned that Trump wants Congress to address Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides protections for companies that host third-party content on their platforms — like Facebook and Twitter — and that Trump wants Congress to look into election security.

130 HOUSE REPUBLICANS, 2 DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST $2,000 STIMULUS CHECKS

“Those are the three important subjects the president has linked together,” McConnell said. “This week the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus.”

Notably, McConnell did not promise action on the $2,000 stimulus checks. Whether the Senate even gets to a cloture vote — a vote to end debate and proceed to a final vote — on the stimulus checks will be up to McConnell. He controls Senate floor action.

If Trump gets his way, McConnell will bring the checks up for a vote.

Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump

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!

The Washington Post@washingtonpost

McConnell blocks Senate Democrats’ initial attempt to approve $2,000 stimulus checks amid growing pressure on GOP leader to act washingtonpost.com/powerpost/stim

“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP,” Trump tweeted Tuesday. “$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!”

Sanders then objected to McConnell’s attempt to quickly move to a vote to override Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

STIMULUS CHECKS ROUND 2: WHAT TO EXPECT

“There are only a few days left in this session,” Schumer said, urging the Senate to prioritize relief checks. “We should not adjourn until the Senate holds a vote on both measures: the NDAA veto override and the House bill to provide $2,000 checks for the American people.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, Sens. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga.; David Perdue, R-Ga.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; and Marco Rubio, R.-Fla., have backed the House legislation for $2,000 stimulus checks, which passed with more than a two-thirds majority Monday.

Jason Donner@jason_donner

Bernie Sanders on Senate Floor regarding $2000 direct payment checks says “working families need help now” and a 2/3 bipartisan vote in the House “did the right thing” and “now time for the senate to step up to the plate.”

Seven more Senate Republicans would need to come out in support of the checks in order to break a filibuster on a cloture vote and set the issue for an up-or-down vote.

Sanders’ objection to McConnell’s attempt to quickly consider the NDAA veto led McConnell to schedule a vote on a motion to proceed on the veto override for Wednesday afternoon. McConnell could file cloture to end debate on the override Wednesday night, which would allow the Senate to take up that cloture vote on Jan. 1.

This tees up a potential vote on the actual veto override for Saturday, Jan. 2.

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That puts Congress on a tight timeline on both the veto override and the stimulus checks. The current Congress must adjourn by Jan. 3.

Fox News’ Jason Donner contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcconnell-blocks-2000-stimulus-checks-quick-vote

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Trump: I Want $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Zack Friedman — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 09:23:32 +0000

President Donald Trump wants $2,000 stimulus checks. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) – GETTY IMAGES

President Donald Trump wants you to get a $2,000 stimulus check.

Here’s what you need to know.

Stimulus Checks

In a speech today from The White House, Trump said he wants $2,000 stimulus checks in the new stimulus package, or he may veto the legislation. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Congress already passed a stimulus package that includes stimulus checks of $600 for each individual and $1,200 for each capital. Calling these stimulus checks “ridiculously low,” Trump now wants Congress to scrap $600 stimulus checks and instead approve $2,000 stimulus checks.

Here are 3 ways your stimulus check may be impacted, given Trump’s statements:

1. You may get a $2,000 stimulus check?

If Trump threatens to veto the stimulus package, Congress has no choice but to seriously consider his statements or face a veto. This means either Congress changes the amount of the second stimulus check (at least higher than $600), or the stimulus package may not become law. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded to Trump and said she supports a one-time, $2,000 stimulus check. That said, it doesn’t mean that Congress will now approve a $2,000 stimulus check. While Congress could consider a $2,000 stimulus check, it’s unlikely that Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), would more than triple the amount of the $600 stimulus check that was approved. Fiscal conservatives in the U.S. Senate won’t support a $2,000 stimulus check, and previously, they have opposed a $ 1,200-second stimulus check. If history is a guide, Congress approved a $1,200 stimulus check as part of the Cares Act—the $2.2 trillion stimulus package. Similarly, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) proposed a $1,200 stimulus check as part of a bipartisan plan in this second stimulus package, but their calls went unanswered. With Trump’s proposal, Congress could reconsider the Hawley-Sanders stimulus check proposal, or increase to meet the $2,000 stimulus check proposal.

2. Your stimulus check may be delayed

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said your stimulus check could be in your bank account in a week. If Congress has to reconsider the amount of the second stimulus check, then your stimulus check may be delayed. It’s unclear how long Congress would need to debate and vote on any new legislation. Since Congress passed the current legislation with a $600 stimulus check, Congress would need to consider new legislation since the current, already-passed legislation can’t be amended. This could delay your stimulus check even further if members of Congress oppose increasing the amount of the second stimulus check, and Congress still wants to pass a comprehensive stimulus package with stimulus checks. That said, Congress could pass legislation to fund the federal government now, and defer a stimulus package with stimulus checks if Congress cannot agree. In either event, if Congress prolongs a debate over the size of the stimulus check, expect delays.

3. Your stimulus check may not happen

This is lower likelihood, but this last-minute veto threat from the president could cause Congress and the White House to reach a stalemate. If the president will veto any legislation without a $2,000 stimulus check, and Congress is unwilling to approve a higher stimulus check, then you may not get a stimulus check—at least now. If Congress and the president don’t agree on a revised stimulus package, then Congress could wait until the next congressional term to reconsider. Deferring stimulus checks again could mean a stimulus check next year (with the amount to be determined), or no stimulus check at all. It’s also worth noting how this latest development could impact the runoff elections in Georgia for the U.S. Senate. Voters are watching, and the outcome of the stimulus package saga could impact who wins the elections, and ultimately, power in Congress. This latest stimulus update could help Republican candidates in Georgia if moderate Republican and independent voters are grateful to the president for fighting for more financial relief. That said, fiscal conservatives oppose further government spending, and likely wouldn’t want the Republican candidates to support a $2,000 stimulus check. Similarly, if Congress and the president can’t agree on the size of the second stimulus check, then voters may not like the gridlock in Washington and resulting in delayed financial relief.

Zack Friedman

Zack Friedman is the bestselling author of the blockbuster book, THE LEMONADE LIFE. Apple named The Lemonade Life one of “Fall’s Biggest Audiobooks” and a “Must-Listen.” Zack is the Founder & CEO of Make Lemonade (www.makelemonade.co), a leading online personal finance company that empowers you to live a better financial life. He is an in-demand speaker and has inspired millions through his powerful insights, including more than 150 million people who have read his advice. Previously, he was a chief financial officer, a hedge fund investor, and worked at Blackstone, Morgan Stanley, and the White House. Zack holds degrees from Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2020/12/22/trump-i-want-2000-stimulus-checks/?sh=46dac0342e06

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