The House voted overwhelmingly Monday in favor of sending $2,000 stimulus checks to the American people, but 130 Republicans went against President Trump and voted in opposition to the measure.
The vote was held after the President had threatened to veto the COVID relief package due to wasteful spending and stimulus checks that he contends would amount to less than what even illegal aliens would get.
Trump abruptly backtracked and signed the bill over the weekend, still demanding Congress take action to change the stimulus checks from $600 per person to $2,000 per person, $4,000 per couple.
Just 44 House Republicans voted for the larger checks, signaling that despite popularity for the move, Senate approval will be a tough hill to climb.
Over 100 Republicans voted to override Trump’s veto on the NDAA and voted against raising the stimulus checks to $2,000 pic.twitter.com/dC31yXx1Fu
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 28, 2020
RELATED: Trump Signs COVID Relief Bill, Continues to Demand $2,000 Stimulus Checks For Americans
130 Republicans Buck Trump Over $2,000 Stimulus Checks
Republican lawmakers voting against the $2,000 stimulus checks is somewhat understandable. Government spending is tragically out of control, and the GOP is not the party of free handouts.
That said, a COVID relief bill was going to pass regardless. And that relief bill was going to include stimulus payments to the American people.
Handing out money isn’t the answer, but if the government is going to do it in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, it sure as hell better be more than $600, and the bill should only focus on struggling Americans and businesses.
In the end, as we argued on these very pages, this isn’t about money from the government, it’s about the government preventing people from earning money.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) blasted “so-called conservatives” who voted for “this spending monstrosity” when the first pair of relief bills were voted on.
He added, “The only thing that can save us is opening the economy.”
Agreed. Let’s see a vote in the House and Senate on a bill that demands the economy be opened back up in its entirety.
Republicans would no doubt vote overwhelmingly in favor of such a measure while Democrats would be on record indicating they want the suffering of the American people to continue.
Looking like a big margin on the NDAA veto override.
So 130 House Republicans went against Trump on $2,000 checks just moments ago, and it looks like there will be over 100 Republicans who go against the president on NDAA.
Trump’s grip on the GOP loosens. Winter intensifies.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 28, 2020
RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard Savages $600 Stimulus Checks In COVID Relief Bill: ‘Slap In The Face To Americans’
Trump Continues Demanding Higher Payments
Even after signing the COVID relief bill, President Trump continued to demand $2,000 stimulus checks for Americans.
“I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child,” he said.
In a previous video statement, the President griped: “The $900 billion package provides hard-working taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments and not enough money is given to small businesses and in particular restaurants, whose owners have suffered so grievously.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020
The increased stimulus checks are expected to meet stiff opposition in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Politico contends that the House passing the measure “may amount to more of a political maneuver than an effort to ultimately deliver additional relief.”
They also report that “it’s unclear if the chamber (Senate) will even take up the House proposal,” and if they do “Republicans are expected to object.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said he planned to filibuster to force the Senate into holding a vote on increasing the stimulus checks.
President Trump seemed to signal support for Bernie Sanders, indicating we’ve officially entered Bizarro World here as 2020 comes to an end.
“Give the people $2000, not $600,” Trump tweeted in response to Sanders’ plan. “They have suffered enough!”
