The majority of Coloradans in the U.S. House voted Monday to send $ 2,000 checks to each U.S. adult, rather than the $ 600 checks approved by Congress last week.
The US House approved the increase by a vote of 275-134 to President Donald Trump insisted on larger checks over the weekend. Democratic leaders in Congress also supported the change and formed an unusual political coalition.
Among the seven members of Colorado – four Democrats and three Republicans – the votes followed party lines, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans against.
“In Colorado and across the country, families are struggling under tremendous economic pressure,” Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Lafayette, said. “This relief is much needed for so many to get by, pay rent and put food on the table.”
Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican in Windsor who opposes every bill passed by Congress this year, voted no on Monday. The fiscal Conservative said he would support a bill that sent $ 2,000 checks instead of a larger bill passed by Congress last week, but not in addition to last week’s massive stimulus package.
“I support direct aid to Americans. But for (Speaker) Nancy Pelosi to add more spending over the billions of taxpayers’ money on pork, pet projects and foreign financing are simply irresponsible. “We have to put Americans first,” he said.
On December 21, Congress passed a $ 900 billion stimulus package that included $ 600 checks to adults earning $ 75,000 or less per year, and $ 600 per child. Trump reluctantly signed the bill Sunday after criticizing the $ 600 bill for several days.
The simple two-page bill approved Monday would replace that $ 600 with $ 2,000 checks for adults earning $ 75,000 or less, along with $ 2,000 per child. The bill must now be passed by the U.S. Senate before it can reach Trump’s desk.
“The president supports it, the House supports it, and now is the time for the Senate to join us,” Rep. Jason Crow, an Aurora Democrat, said.
‘Today’s vote is another attempt by House Democrats to support families for families struggling during the ongoing pandemic. “Unfortunately, these efforts will be thwarted by Republican resistance,” Arvada Democrat forecaster Ed Perlmutter said in a statement after Monday’s vote.