Trump's $2,000 checks stall in Senate as GOP blocks vote

President Donald Trump's push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks stalled out in Senate as Republicans blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats and split within ir own ranks over wher to boost spending or defy White House.

roblock mounted Tuesday by Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell may t be sustainable as pressure mounts. Trump wants Republican-led chamber to follow House and increase checks from $600 for millions of Americans. A growing number of Republicans, including two senators in ruff elections on Jan. 5 in Georgia, have said y will support larger amount. But most GOP senators oppose more spending, even if y are also wary of bucking Trump.

Senators will be back at it Wednesday as McConnell is devising a way out of political bind, but outcome is highly uncertain.

“re’s one question left today: Do Senate Republicans join with rest of America in supporting $2,000 checks?” Senate Democratic leer Chuck Schumer said as he me a motion to vote.

Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said some of $600 payments might be sent by direct deposit to Americans' bank accounts as early as Tuesday night. Mnuchin tweeted that paper checks will begin to go out Wednesday.

showdown over $2,000 checks has thrown Congress into a chaotic year-end session just days before new lawmakers are set to be sworn into office for new year. It’s preventing action on ar priority — overturning Trump’s veto on a sweeping defense bill that has been approved every year for 60 years.

Saying little, McConnell signaled an alternative approach to Trump's checks that may t divide his party so bly, but may result in action at all.

GOP leer filed new legislation late Tuesday linking president's demand for bigger checks with two or Trump priorities — repealing protections for tech companies like Facebook or Twitter that president complained are unfair to conservatives as well establishment of a bipartisan commission to review 2020 presidential election he lost to President-elect Joe Biden .

“ Senate will begin a process,” GOP leer said. He said little more, only that he would bring president’s demand for $2,000 checks and or remaining issues “into focus.”

president's last-minute push for bigger checks leaves Republicans deeply split between those who align with Trump’s populist instincts and those who here to what h been more tritional conservative views against government spending. Congress h settled on smaller $600 payments in a compromise over big, year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law.

Liberal senators led by Bernie Sanders of Vermont who support relief aid are blocking action on defense bill until a vote can be taken on Trump's demand for $2,000 for most Americans.

" working class of this country today faces more ecomic desperation than at any time since Great Depression of 1930s," Sanders said as he also tried to force a vote on relief checks. “Working families need help w.” But McConnell objected a second time.

GOP blocke is causing turmoil for some as virus crisis worsens nationwide and Trump amplifies his unexpected demands.

two GOP senators from Georgia, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, anunced Tuesday y support Trump's plan for bigger checks as y face Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warck in ruff elections that will determine which party controls Senate.

“I’m delighted to support president,” said Perdue on Fox News. Loeffler said in an interview on Fox that she, too, backs boosted relief checks.

Trump repeated his demand in a tweet ahe of Tuesday’s Senate session: ”$2000 for our great people, t $600!”

Following Trump's le, Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Marco Rubio of Florida, among party's potential 2024 presidential hopefuls, are pushing party in president's direction.

“We’ve got votes. Let’s vote today,” Hawley tweeted.

Or Republicans panned bigger checks saying nearly $400 billion price tag was too high, relief is t targeted to those in need and Washington has alrey dispatched ample sums on COVID aid.

“We’ve spent $4 trillion on this problem," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

House vote late Monday to approve Trump's request was a stunning turn of events. Just days ago, during a brief Christmas Eve session, Republicans blocked Trump's sudden demand for bigger checks as he defiantly refused to sign broer COVID-19 aid and year-end funding bill into law.

As Trump spent days fuming from his private club in Florida, where he is spending holidays, millions of Americans saw jobless aid lapse and nation risked a federal government shutdown Tuesday.

Dozens of Republicans calculated it was better to link with Democrats to increase pandemic payments rar than buck outgoing president and constituents counting on money. House Democrats led pass, 275-134, but 44 Republicans joined almost all Democrats for a robust two-thirds vote of approval.

It's highly possible that McConnell will set up votes ahe on both House-passed measure supporting Trump’s $2,000 checks as well as his own new version linking it with repeal of tech company liability shield in “section 230” of communications law as well as new presidential election review commission.

That's a process that almost ensures neir bill will pass. Trump's push could fizzle out in Senate but debate over size and scope of pack — $900 billion in COVID-19 aid and $1.4 trillion to fund government ncies — is potentially one last confrontation before new Congress is sworn in Sunday. For w, $600 checks are set to be delivered, along with or aid, among largest rescue packs of its kind.

COVID-19 portion of bill revives a weekly pandemic jobless benefit boost — this time $300, through March 14 — as well as popular Paycheck Protection Program of grants to businesses to keep workers on payrolls. It extends eviction protections, ding a new rental assistance fund.

Americans earning up to $75,000 will qualify for direct $600 payments, which are phased out at higher income levels, and re's an ditional $600 payment per dependent child.

Biden supports $2,000 checks and said Tuesday aid pack is merely a “down payment” on what he plans to deliver once in office. Ecomists said a $600 check will help, but that it’s a far cry from spending power that a $2,000 check would provide for ecomy.

“It will make a big difference wher it’s $600 versus $2,000,” said Ryan Sweet, an ecomist with Moody’s.  president also objected to foreign aid funding that his own ministration h requested and vowed to send Congress “a redlined version” with spending items he wants removed. But those are merely suggestions to Congress. Democrats said y would resist such cuts.