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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is reportedly planning a Christmas Eve vote on legislation to increase individual stimulus payments to $2,000 after President Trump called on Congress to take action.
In a letter to the Democratic caucus, Pelosi said she would ask for unanimous consent to bring up a standalone bill to increase the payments, suggesting that it was her idea all along.
“To do so requires the agreement of the Republican Leader,” the speaker wrote. This agreement is necessary in the House and in the Senate. If the President truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments, he should call upon Leader McCarthy to agree to our Unanimous Consent request.”
Pelosi also urged Trump to sign the 5,593 page, pork-filled monstrosity of a bill that was passed this week, setting aside $900 billion for COVID-19 relief and another $1.4 trillion to fund the federal government.
“The entire country knows that it is urgent for the President to sign this bill, both to provide the coronavirus relief and to keep government open,” she said.
Taking to Twitter, Pelosi also encouraged Trump to sign the bill, further presenting the stimulus increase as a Democratic idea.
Mr. President, sign the bill to keep government open! Urge McConnell and McCarthy to agree with the Democratic unanimous consent request for $2,000 direct payments! This can be done by noon on Christmas Eve!
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 23, 2020
In a video address shared online Tuesday night, Trump slammed the bill, to include the “ridiculously low” $600 stimulus payment.
“Despite all of this wasteful spending and much more, 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,” he said. “Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists, and special interests while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it. It wasn’t their fault, it was China’s fault, not their fault.”
“I’m asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” the president added.
Trump concluded by requesting that Congress “immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., continues to play second fiddle to Pelosi, but he took to social media also to take $2,000 checks were his party’s idea.
We spent months trying to secure $2000 checks but Republicans blocked it
Trump needs to sign the bill to help people and keep the government open and we’re glad to pass more aid Americans need
Maybe Trump can finally make himself useful and get Republicans not to block it again
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 23, 2020
Sen. Bernie Sanders was also quick to take credit for the proposed $2,000 stimulus checks, citing a bill he introduced “7 months ago.”.
That’s great! I first introduced a bill to provide a $2,000 direct payment with @SenKamalaHarris & @EdMarkey 7 months ago. Now, Mr. President, get Mitch McConnell and your Republican friends to stop opposing it and we can provide working class Americans with $2,000. Let’s do it. https://t.co/fKvqBsqM0k
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 23, 2020
And “The Squad” did their part to deceptively suggest that they have been “fighting for” the larger stipend.
Never mind that Speaker Pelosi held up any movement on a relief bill ahead of the election, even rejecting an early October call from Trump to send a standalone bill for stimulus checks.
Me and @AOC have the amendment ready. Send the bill back, and we will put in the $2,000 we’ve been fighting for that your party has been blocking. pic.twitter.com/GGXtJt77D9
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) December 23, 2020
The party’s online echo chamber eagerly regurgitated the notion that Democrats should get credit for the stimulus increase.
Here’s a quick sampling from Twitter:
Since it was Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party who originally asked for larger amounts of the #StimulusCheck, they deserve the credit. I stand with @TeamPelosi, the Democratic Party, and most importantly, the American people.
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) December 23, 2020
.@SpeakerPelosi is ready to finish the $2000 covid stimulus payments by NOON tomorrow.
Who says Democrats never say Christmas?
Happy Festivus everyone.https://t.co/ThO4nsWzU8
— Grant Stern (@grantstern) December 23, 2020
Pelosi just called Trump’s bluff. Democrats have been fighting for bigger stimulus checks all year long while Mitch McConnell and the Republicans have blocked this.
Now that the House is ready to pass a new bill with a $2000 payment, the ball is in McConnell’s court. https://t.co/mOtW7hBv1A
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) December 23, 2020
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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