Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) said Monday that the upper house would pass legislation Tuesday that would increase stimulus checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 unless the move is blocked by Republicans.
Schumer’s remarks come shortly after House Democrats, along with 44 of their Republican colleagues, passed the Supplementary Assistance to Americans (CASH) Act. President Donald Trump last week called for the checks to be increased, although he later signed legislation approving the lower amount. Democrats quickly agreed to pursue the higher amount. However, there was some resistance to the move and it is not at all clear whether Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), And the rest of the GOP-controlled Senate will approve the measure.
“Tomorrow I will pass legislation in the Senate to quickly give Americans $ 2,000 emergency tests. Every Senate Democrat is in favor of this much-needed increase in emergency relief, which can be approved tomorrow if no Republican blocks it – there is no good reason for the “Senate Republicans stand in the way,” Schumer said The cup.
“There is strong support for these $ 2,000 emergency tests from every corner of the country,” he added. “Leader McConnell must ensure that Senate Republicans do not stand in the way of helping to meet the needs of American workers and families calling for help.”
Although resistance to increasing the payment may make his plans succeed, Schumer plans to force the Senate to vote on the legislation. Under the rules of the room, any member can ask for a vote. However, approval will have to be unanimous for the maneuver to succeed, as any other member can block the request as well.
If the House does vote on the measure, it could force Republican senators to choose between proving loyalty to Trump and their own party’s traditional unwillingness to increase government spending because of conservative fiscal policy.
Since Congress was not unanimous in its support for any stimulus checks, Schumer’s attempt to force a vote is expected to fail. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) Has already blocked two attempts to deliver $ 1,200 checks this month, insisting the amount is too high.
Support for the CASH Act was also far from unanimous in the House and passed a vote of 275-134. The 130 Republicans who voted against the increase were added by two independents and two Democrats who broke the ranks, including Representative Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), Who said Newsweek that the measure was “a free political gesture that threatens the future of our children for short-term political gain.”
Newsweek came out to McConnell’s office for comment.
Tasos Katopodis / Getty