House Republicans rejected President Donald Trump’s demand to increase the $600 stimulus checks to $2,000 in the $900 billion Covid relief bill.
House Republicans blocked a proposal to increase the payments in a vote on Thursday, Dec. 24, according to the Associated Press.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to increase the paltry $600 direct payments to $2,000 after Trump criticized the Covid relief package as a “disgrace” last week.
But the Democrats effort to amend the relief package failed on Thursday.
Trump left Washington DC on Wednesday without signing the massive, pork-filled legislation. If House Republicans had approved the Democrats’ proposal, some Americans could have received $10,000 for a family of 5 in direct payments by January 6th.
House Democrats will vote again on Monday to pass an amended stimulus package, with a new stand-alone bill for the $2,000 checks. The House will also attempt to override Trump’s veto of the $750 billion National Defense Authorization Act, as a government shutdown looms.
In addition to a government shutdown, a federal ban on evictions will also run out by Dec. 31, as will the $300 per week in additional unemployment benefits.
