Republicans Block Democrats’ Attempt to Approve $2,000 Stimulus Checks

Even though Trump has called for $2,000 stimulus checks for Americans, House Democrats’ move to pass the direct payments was blocked by Republicans—impacting the huge coronavirus relief package that Congress passed earlier this week.

CNBC reports that Democrats attempted to increase the check amounts after Trump warned that he’d obstruct the $2 trillion pandemic aid and federal funding bill because it included $600 stimulus checks instead of $2,000. Congress had already passed the proposal on Monday, even though Trump didn’t participate in its development. The plan encompassed $900 billion in COVID-19 relief.

Republicans pursued $600 payments instead of the $1,200 from the CARES Act in March in order to lessen the plan’s cost. The Democrats’ attempt to pass the $2,000 payments was then blocked on Christmas Eve day by House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi later said she would conduct a full recorded vote on the $2,000 payment proposal on Monday. “If the President is serious about the $2,000 direct payments, he must call on House Republicans to end their obstruction,” Pelosi said.

It isn’t yet known who would be eligible for $2,000 payments, but in the relief bill, Americans who earn up to $75,000 and couples who jointly earn up to $150,000 would receive $600—and each dependent child would add another $600 to that total.