Senate leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday that Democrats would allow votes to curtail a liability shield for tech companies and create a committee to investigate the 2020 election if the GOP agreed to a separate up-or-down vote on sending $ 2,000 checks to most Americans.
“Just give us a vote on the bill passed by the House, and we can vote on whatever right-wing conspiracy theory you want,” the New York Democrat said on the Senate floor.
The comments came shortly after a speech by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Who denounced the $ 2,000 direct payments as “socialism for the rich.”
McConnell has refused to hold a separate vote on the stimulus payments, instead linking them to legislation that would repeal Article 230 and set up a committee to study alleged problems with the presidential election.
President Donald Trump demanded Congress move forward on all three issues when he agreed to sign a $ 900 billion Covid-19 aid package on Sunday.
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects Internet platforms from liability for user-created content, has long been criticized by conservatives sparring with companies like Facebook and Twitter over unrelated issues.
Schumer said that by linking the three issues, McConnell had “made up an excuse” to avoid passing legislation that allowed the increased stimulus payments. Trump, said Schumer, “had made no such demand.”
“Let’s be very clear: there is one way, and only one way, to pass $ 2,000 checks before the end of the year. And that’s to get the house bill. It’s the only way to get the American people off the hook. to give checks they need and deserve., ”Schumer said.
The Democrat-led House of Representatives on Monday passed legislation approving the $ 2,000 checks, increasing the $ 600 checks required in the $ 900 billion package Trump signed by $ 1,400. Americans have already started receiving payments of $ 600.
On Tuesday, McConnell blocked Schumer’s first attempt to pass the House legislation in the Senate by unanimous consent. Schumer tried this again on Thursday and McConnell bothered again.
In his own speech on Thursday, McConnell said the recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic had affected rich and poor Americans differently.
“The data shows that many upper-middle-class Americans have kept their jobs, worked remotely, and remained completely at ease financially,” McConnell said. “We don’t have to let the Speaker of the House do socialism for rich people.”
Those on the left have argued that direct payments can provide financial lifelines more quickly than more narrowly targeted assistance, especially given the delays associated with state-run unemployment insurance programs.
The pressure on higher payments has divided Republicans, including by positioning the outgoing president against the most senior Republican in Congress. Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Also caused a stir by backing the $ 2,000 direct payments.
The fighting has led to the crucial layoffs taking place in Georgia that will determine which party controls the Senate.
The two Democratic candidates, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, immediately took to the development, and both of their GOP rivals – Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue – eventually expressed support for the payment.
President-elect Joe Biden has also expressed support for the $ 2,000 direct payments, saying he will provide more details on his plan for more emergency relief legislation early next year. He will be inaugurated on January 20.
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