House Republicans rejected an effort by House Democrats on Thursday to pass a bill to provide $2,000 stimulus checks — up from the $600 approved in a sweeping coronavirus relief and omnibus spending package earlier in the week.
Democrats offered the bill after President TrumpDonald TrumpMcCarthy to offer UC request to revisit foreign spending in omnibus GOP senator on Trump pardons: ‘This is rotten to the core’ Trump pardons Manafort, Stone and Charles Kushner in latest round MORE raised objections to the $2.3 trillion COVID-19 relief and omibus spending package approved by Congress on Monday.
Trump explicitly complained that the $600 direct payments to Americans included in the bill were too small, calling for the checks to be $2,000.
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Democrats seized on the president’s words to try to put Republicans in a difficult spot, arguing they also preferred the higher payments.
House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerEnd of an era: Champion of programs for the poor retiring Trump slams relief bill, calls on Congress to increase stimulus money Omnibus doesn’t block Trump order allowing burrowing of political appointees MORE (D-Md.) offered the measure to boost the check size to $2,000 during the Christmas Eve session of the House by unanimous consent.
A number of Republicans in Congress oppose direct payments of $2,000.
In response to Hoyer, Rep. Rob Whitman (R-Va.) sought to bring up a competing measure to revisit the portion of the appropriations legislation that relates to foreign aid. Trump also criticize those provisions, which were included after a negotiation with Republicans and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who signed off on the deal.
Trump only raised his objections after the bill was approved by Congress, surprising members of both parties and putting Republicans in the House and Senate in a difficult political spot.
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The government will shut down on Tuesday unless Trump signs the bill, or a new funding measures is approved.
Rep. Debbie DingellDeborah (Debbie) Ann DingellAOC v. Pelosi: Round 12? Overnight Health Care: CDC panel recommends who gets vaccine first | McConnell offering new relief bill | Hahn downplays White House meeting on vaccines GM reverses on Trump, exits suit challenging California’s tougher emissions standards MORE (D-Mich.), who was presiding over the House, shot down both the Hoyer and Whitman requests on Thursday, which was expected.
She said that under House guidelines, legislation can’t be considered by unanimous consent unless there is the approval of bipartisan House floor and committee leadership.
Thursday’s effort on the $2,000 direct payments from House Democrats won’t be their last. Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiMcCarthy to offer UC request to revisit foreign spending in omnibus Overnight Defense: Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up override vote | Trump raises objections to government funding, COVID-19 relief package | Trump offers Iran ‘friendly health advice’ as tensions heat up Trump leaves Washington in limbo with relief threat MORE (D-Calif.) said in a statement that the House on Monday would hold a recorded vote on legislation to increase the size of the checks in the relief package to $2,000.
“To vote against this bill is to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny them the relief they need,” she said. “Hopefully by then the President will have already signed the bipartisan and bicameral legislation to keep government open and to deliver coronavirus relief.”
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Trump has not explicitly said he would veto the year-end legislation, and it’s unclear how he will ultimately proceed. It remains possible that he could sign the bill, despite his misgivings.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy to offer UC request to revisit foreign spending in omnibus Overnight Defense: Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up override vote | Trump raises objections to government funding, COVID-19 relief package | Trump offers Iran ‘friendly health advice’ as tensions heat up Trump leaves Washington in limbo with relief threat MORE (R-Calif.) formally announced to his members on Wednesday evening the counter unanimous consent request in a dear colleague letter, attempting to cast blame on Democrats for the chaos on the spending bill despite the president’s criticisms despite the foreign aid being in his budget request.
“House Democrats appear to be suffering from selective hearing. They have conveniently ignored the concerns expressed by the President, and shared by our constituents, that we ought to reexamine how our tax dollars are spent overseas while so many of our neighbors at home are struggling to make ends meet,” the letter said.
“Thus, Republicans will offer a unanimous consent request to revisit the State and Foreign Operations title of the Omnibus so that we can fully address the concerns at hand. It will be up to Speaker Pelosi to decide if she wants to act on behalf of the American people.”
McCarthy told members on a call Wednesday he has spoken to the president and it remains unclear whether he will ultimately sign the coronavirus aid and spending package.
— Updated at 10:00 a.m.