Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

U.S. House approves $2,000 coronavirus aid checks sought by Trump

Published 12/28/2020, 02:51 AM
Updated 12/28/2020, 08:51 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO:  The U.S. Capitol Building following a rainstorm on Capitol Hill in Washington

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol Building following a rainstorm on Capitol Hill in Washington

By Susan Cornwell and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON/PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives voted 275-134 to meet President Donald Trump's demand for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks on Monday, sending the measure on to an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate.

But even as Democrats helped secure approval for what the Republican president sought on stimulus payments, they spearheaded a House vote just a short time later to override his veto of a separate $740 billion defense policy bill. The rebuke, in Trump's final weeks in office, would be the first veto override of his presidency if seconded by the Senate this week.

Trump last week threatened to block a massive pandemic aid and spending package if Congress did not boost stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 and cut other spending. He backed down from his demands on Sunday as a possible government shutdown loomed, brought on by the fight with lawmakers.

But Democratic lawmakers have long wanted $2,000 relief checks and used the rare point of agreement with Trump to advance the proposal - or at least to put Republicans on record against it - in the vote on Monday, less than a month before he leaves office.

SPENDING AND CORONAVIRUS AID PACKAGE

The 275 votes for passage meant the stimulus proposal narrowly exceeded the two-thirds of votes cast needed. A total of 130 Republicans, two independents and two Democrats opposed the increased checks on Monday.

Trump, who lost November's election to Democratic challenger Joe Biden but has refused to concede defeat, finally signed the $2.3 trillion package into law after holding it up with a veiled veto threat. But he continued demanding $2,000 checks.

The $2.3 trillion includes $1.4 trillion in spending to fund government agencies and $892 billion in COVID-19 relief.

It is not clear how the measure to increase aid checks will fare in the Senate, where individual Republican lawmakers have complained the higher amount would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the latest relief bill.

Increasing the checks would cost $464 billion, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, which prepares cost estimates for legislation before Congress.

The Senate is due to convene on Tuesday, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he would then seek passage of the higher stimulus checks bill in the chamber, where Republicans have the majority. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday made no mention of Senate plans for a vote, after welcoming Trump's signing of the relief bill.

The coronavirus pandemic has killed nearly 330,000 people in the United States and led to widespread economic hardship, with millions of families relying on unemployment benefits and COVID-19 relief funds.

Global markets were buoyed after Trump approved the package.

Wall Street's main indexes hit record highs on Monday as Trump's signing of the aid bill bolstered bets on an economic recovery and drove gains in financial and energy stocks.

PELOSI: 'REPUBLICANS HAVE A CHOICE'

As the floor debate was under way, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "Republicans have a choice, vote for this legislation, or vote to deny the American people the bigger paychecks that they need."

And Democratic U.S. Representative Dan Kildee said: "We would have included much larger payments in the legislation had he (Trump) spoken up sooner. But it's never too late to do the right thing."

Asked at the end of an event in Wilmington, Delaware, whether he supported expanding the coronavirus payments to $2,000, Biden replied: "Yes."

Georgia Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, who face crucial Senate runoffs next month that could determine who controls the chamber, welcomed Trump's move, without saying whether the payments should be increased.

Republican Representative Kevin Brady (NYSE:BRC) said the bill does nothing to help people get back to work. "I worry that as we spend another half a trillion dollars so hastily, that we are not targeting this help to the Americans who are struggling the most and need that help," he said.

The U.S. Treasury Department is anticipating sending the first wave of $600 stimulus checks to U.S. individuals and households as early as this week, as previously planned, a senior Treasury official said on Monday.

HOUSE OVERRIDES VETO

Also in the hands of the Senate, for a vote expected this week, will be whether to override Trump's veto of the defense bill. In Monday's 322-87 House vote, which met the two-thirds majority needed, only 66 Republicans sided with Trump's rejection of the bipartisan bill, underscoring deep divisions in the Republican Party.

Trump, who is angry that some Republicans have acknowledged his loss to Biden, vetoed the defense bill last Wednesday. He said he was against it because he wanted it to overturn liability protections for social media companies unrelated to national security, and opposed a provision to rename military bases named after generals who fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the Civil War.

© Reuters. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill, U.S.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters that Trump's veto had been "stupid" and "small-minded." "This was too irrational a move for the Republicans to rationalize," the Democratic lawmaker said, predicting that the Senate would take similar action.

Latest comments

"would cost $464 billion, according to Committee on Taxation" so trump reduce taxes for companies like apple, google etc and now demands to pay 2,000 from the national budget. What a unique businesman.
Ok...I will take $2,000 bacon any day...
If we keep giving away free money, we r going to bankrupt like the foolish Greek government.
Why not people continue to lazy and sit on tjere asses anyways
Create jobs and help Americans to get back on their feet...$600 or $2,000 is great for now, will not go far though...
I am fortunate and do not need this $$ as much as Families being evicted. I will donate to the less fortunate.
X>$75,000 doesn’t qualify. If you qualify you can use the now or possibly down the road.
You likely wont see the extra 1400 after Biden sworn in.
luckily Biden won't be sworn in, the storm is coming
It's exactly what China wants.  USA sinking in national debt while they rise up to the top ! Way to go congress !
This covid19 ******is a make up by the Dem. to corrupt everything and steal the election. They are the ones that *******you up, go figure.
Moscow Mitch and the rest of the Putin lover repos won't lift a finger to help the American people so this will be doa in the senate.
Then our kids will have to pay this debt
I call him Chow Mitch.
The law is already in books, it is signed. It cannot be changed at this point. This vote is demagoguery, pure and simple.
New Jazenevd the bill was done under special procedure which bypasses committee but requires two thirds majority to pass. This is covered in any 7th grade civics class.
 Get to 8th grade and, possibly, you will learn more.
Well after they vote yes on it then they fan read it lol
why is cutoff same as a decade ago?
more money going i to bitcoin now when the check arrives
Gold, Gold and Bitcoin, but not just Bitcoin.  There's more risk in Bitcoin than there is gold.  Cyberspace or precious metal you can hold in your hand?  Gold is a must, Bitcoin is good along with gold.  IMO, it's a mistake to own Bitcoin without owning some gold to balance out your portfolio.  With Bitcoin you still have a middle man.  Owning physical gold eliminates the middleman and you exchange directly with the vendor of your choice.  Because this is the nature of real money, gold's insurance character surpasses everything else that's out there. Gold is cash personified.  Bitcoin needs the internet.  Bitcoin enthusiasts: make sure you have some gold first!
Whats wrong with commodity metals futures and other things to eat?
Trump needs to join the Dem! and *******the Rep
The name of the game? Who is printing more money!!! 👌💯
This app n reuters r both s/t/u/p/id n Sensorship at best
This app is darn s/t/u/pid. Cant write a regular sentence.
Trump signed because he sees he is out and Un/em/ployment expired
Trump signed because he sees he will b out of office n unemployment benefits expired.
Reuters writers r robots. The reason Trump signed r: Trump sees he will be out of office. #2 unemployment benefits ran out.
Haha, democrats aim for higher checks??? After Trump pointed out the obvious to them
yeah, I keep seeing consistently one way bias headlines just like this one.
Democrats wanted bigger checks from the start, and even passed a bill in the House months ago. But Moscow Mitch refused to even bring it to the floor, and it was the Republicans who were fighting for smaller dollar amounts. Trump didn't "point out" anything other than that he changed his mind and decided he wanted what Democrats had wanted all along.
I love the way you write articles by the way. Always including things that has nothing to do with the point of your story
Open message to CEO Reuters. 100k will be give to your charity if you fight me in a legitimate, sanctioned MMA fight. Why are you not responding?
25 or so more days and this nightmare president will be over and soon so will 2020 thank god let's get this monster out of office and start repairing this broken country with facts.  He lost by 7 million votes more than any other president and he will be remembered as a failed leader in a time of crisis in this nation....GOOD RIDDANCE!  Oh and take the rats along with you.
Funny...Biden can't choose an attorney general because he needs one that won't prosecute Hunter.
notice how is telling people "trump who lost the election and will leave office on january 20 ? you tell peopke that trump lost here and there and people actually believe it .is like brainwashing
Especially when it's true!
Media keeps saying trump didn't lose, it's like brainwashing ... 🧐
Trump won election easily
Besides all these so "clever" comments on politics, the only reality will be to resuscitate Paul Volcker to stop the dollar tsunam flooding the economy with the following inflation. Joe will be remembered because of it. Get ready for gold and criptocurrencies ,plus other commodities.
amen to that .
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.