Republicans block $2,000 virus checks
House Republicans shotdown ademocratic bid on Thursday to pass President Donald Trump’s longshot, end- ofsession demand for $2,000 direct payments to most Americans as he ponderswhether to sign a long-overdue COVID-19 relief bill.
The made- forTV clash came as the Democraticcontrolled chamber convened for a pro forma session that had been scheduled in anticipation of Trump signing the massive, year- end legislative package, which folds together a $1.4 trillion governmentwide spending with the hard-fought COVID-19 package and dozens of unrelated but bipartisan bills.
Instead, Thursday’s 12-minute House session morphed into unconvincing theater in response to Trump’s veto musings about the package, which was negotiated by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Trump’s behalf. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House
Democrat, sought theunanimous approval of allhouse members to pass the bigger checks, but GOP leader Kevin Mccarthy, who was not present in the nearlyempty chamber, denied approval.
If Trump were to follow through on his implied veto threat, delivered via video clip on Tuesday, the government would likely experience a brief, partial shutdown of the government starting on Dec. 29. It would also delay delivery of the$600 direct payments that the bill does contain and other help for the unemployed and people facing eviction.
The push for bigger payments has created rare common cause between Trump and some of the most liberal members of Congress. House Speaker Pelosi, D- Calif., said they fought for the higher stipends during protracted negotiations only to settle on the lower number when Republicans refused. Democrats plan to hold a roll call vote on the $2,000 check proposal on Monday when members of the House return to Washington.