McConnell places off vote on $2,000 aid checks; Trump cell phone calls Republican leaders 'weak' and 'tired'
30 December, 2020
U.S. Senate Majority Head Mitch McConnell on Tuesday defer a vote on President Donald Trump's call to boost COVID-19 alleviation checks and urged the Senate to override his veto of a defense expenses, in a rare concern to his fellow Republican three weeks before he vacates the White House.
McConnell acted soon after Trump assailed Republican leaders on Twitter, calling them "weak" and "tired" within an apparent effort to get the Senate to increase COVID-19 pain relief checks from $600 to $2,000 and also to support his defense bill veto.
After McConnell addressed a rare year-end Senate program, Trump tweeted that the Senate must approve the bigger payments as soon as possible, "unless Republicans possess a death wish."
Republicans in Congress have largely stuck with Trump through a number of turbulent years but he is angry that his party's lawmakers have got not fully backed his false promises of fraud found in his November election reduction to President-elect Joe Biden.
The president has also chafed at the Republicans' efforts to override a presidential veto for the very first time since he took office in 2016 and their opposition to bigger aid checks.
McConnell, the most notable Republican found in the Senate, on Tuesday blocked immediate factor of a good measure to improve COVID-19 relief repayments, suggesting instead that the Senate would begin to examine the problem along with two others Trump has got raised - the integrity of elections and restrictions on big technology firms.
"This week the Senate will begin an activity to bring these three priorities into focus," he said. McConnell did not elaborate on what action, if any, the Senate would undertake stimulus checks.
With the brand new Year's Day holiday on Friday and a new Congress, because to be sworn into office on Sunday, the current crop of lawmakers have only a short time to act.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives approved the upsurge in direct payments to $2,000 on Mon. The House also overrode Trump's veto on the defense bill.
A combined $892 billion bipartisan coronavirus comfort bundle and $1.4 trillion spending bill that Trump signed into rules on Sunday contains $600 checks for folks hit hard financially by the coronavirus.
Democrats believe the stimulus check issue could give them an advantage found in two critical Georgia runoff elections in a few days that may determine which party handles the U.S. Senate and the fate of Biden's agenda when he can take workplace on Jan. 20.
U.S. stocks dipped into bad territory after McConnell rejected Senate Democratic innovator Chuck Schumer's demand the Senate to approve the increased stimulus aid by unanimous consent.
PARTING WAYS
McConnell refused to cave to Trump's requirements on the military bill and set the level for a vote to override the veto found in the coming days.
"For the brave individuals of america armed forces, inability is simply no option," he said. "Hence when it's our submit Congress to possess their backs, failure is not a choice either. I would urge my colleagues to aid this legislation once more."
Overturning Trump's veto requires votes simply by two-thirds of the House and Senate.
If the Senate seconds the House action, the defense bill becomes laws. It could be the primary veto override of Trump's presidency.
The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote on Trump's veto on Wednesday evening, that could result in final passage soon after in the week or higher the weekend.
In a tweet storm right before the Senate session began, Trump attacked "weak and tired" Republican leaders.
"WE ARE IN NEED OF NEW & ENERGETIC REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP," he wrote found in a tweet claiming once again that voter fraud caused his defeat in the Nov 3 election.
"Republican leadership just wants the path of least resistance. Our leaders (certainly not me, of program!) are pathetic. They simply know how to eliminate!" he wrote without mentioning any party innovator by name.
Final passing of the COVID-19 aid upsurge in the Senate would require 60 votes including the backing of a dozen Republicans.
At least five Republicans have so far voiced support for the higher payments.
They include Republican Senators David Purdue and Kelly Loeffler, who are prospects in the Georgia runoffs on Jan 5.
Source: japantoday.com