According to Senate rules, Sanders has the ability to keep the room indoors during the holiday week and probably with the field schedules of Sens. To fight David Perdue (R-Ga.) And Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.). The two will face off in the run-up to Jan. 5 for Senate control of Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who are both battling the $ 2,000 checks.
A source close to Sanders said the Senate race was a factor in his decision – part of the effort to keep Perdue and Loeffler in DC and focus the campaign on their position regarding the $ 2,000 checks. Sanders also threatened to shut down the government earlier this month if the coronavirus relief bill does not include direct payments; eventually it included checks of up to $ 600 and the government remained open, although Trump now wants to go much higher.
Although veto domination can be illustrated, as Sanders intends, it is a rare procedure because the veto domination already requires 67 votes and the filibuster is simply a delaying tactic, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Sanders said he hopes McConnell allows a vote on the checks on Wednesday.
“The American people are desperate, and the Senate must do its job before leaving the city,” Sanders said. “It would be unscrupulous, especially after the House did the right thing, that the Senate would simply leave Washington without voting on this.”
It is not clear if there are 60 votes in the Senate for the $ 2,000 checks, which require at least 12 Republicans to join the chamber’s 48 Democratic caucus members. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to try to force a vote on the bill passed by the House on Tuesday, though any member of the Senate may object to it, and many Conservatives are opposed to it.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) Nevertheless endorsed the $ 2,000 checks on Monday night and some Republicans backed them on the floor, showing a division within the party to give Trump the checks he demands. as he prepares to leave office. in January.