Senate Minority Chairperson Chuck Schumer, a Democrat of New York, is holding a virtual meeting with Pete Buttigieg, former Mayor of South Bend, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, United States on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.
Ting Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Chuck Schumer, chairman of the Senate minority, said Thursday that if Republicans agreed to hold a separate vote on the submission of votes, Democrats would allow votes limiting liability coverage for tech companies and a commission to review the 2020 elections Hold $ 2,000 checks to most Americans.
“Just give us a vote on the bill passed by Parliament and we can vote on any right-wing conspiracy theory you like,” said the New York Senate Democrat.
The remarks came shortly after a speech by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Who called the $ 2,000 direct payments “socialism for the rich.”
McConnell has refused to hold a separate vote on the stimulus payments and has instead passed laws repealing Section 230 and setting up a commission to investigate alleged problems in the presidential election.
President Donald Trump urged Congress to move forward with all three questions as he agreed to sign a $ 900 billion aid package for Covid-19 on Sunday.
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects Internet platforms from liability for user-generated content, has long been criticized by conservatives who argued with companies like Facebook and Twitter over unrelated topics.
Schumer said that by linking the three issues, McConnell “made up an excuse” to avoid passing laws authorizing increases in stimulus payments. Trump, said Schumer, “made no such request”.
Let’s be very clear: there is one and only way to hand over $ 2,000 checks before the end of the year. And that is to get the house bills off. That is the only way Americans can get the checks they need and to earn.” “Said Schumer.
The Democrat-led House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday approving the $ 2,000 checks and adding $ 1,400 to the $ 600 payments requested in the $ 900 billion package signed by Trump. Americans have already started receiving the $ 600 checks.
On Tuesday, McConnell blocked Schumer’s first attempt to unanimously pass the House legislation in the Senate. Schumer tried again Thursday, and McConnell sank the effort again.
In his own speech on Thursday, McConnell said the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic had hit rich and poor Americans differently.
“The data shows that many upper-middle-class Americans have retained their jobs, worked remotely, and have remained perfectly financially comfortable,” said McConnell. “We don’t have to let the House Speaker do socialism for rich people.”
The left has argued that direct payments can lead to financial lifelines faster than more targeted relief, especially given the delays associated with government-administered unemployment insurance programs.
The drive for higher payments has divided Republicans, including the positioning of the outgoing president against the top Republican in Congress. Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Has also made waves by speaking out in favor of the $ 2,000 direct payments.
The fighting has affected the crucial drains in Georgia that determine which party controls the Senate.
Two Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock immediately took advantage of the development, and their two GOP rivals – Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue – eventually expressed their support for the payment.
President-elect Joe Biden has also spoken out in favor of the $ 2,000 direct payments and said he will provide more details on his plan for additional relief laws early next year. It will be inaugurated on January 20th.
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