Democrats And Some Republicans Push To Add Stimulus Checks To COVID-19 Relief Bill

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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is urging President Trump to veto any coronavirus aid bill that does not include direct payments.





Patrick Semansky/AP



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Patrick Semansky/AP



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Trump has supported the idea of new checks in the past, including an October tweet demanding a new round of checks as a standalone bill.

If I am sent a Stand Alone Bill for Stimulus Checks ($1,200), they will go out to our great people IMMEDIATELY. I am ready to sign right now. Are you listening Nancy? @MarkMeadows @senatemajldr @kevinomccarthy @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020

But Trump isn’t directly involved in the current talks and has tasked White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin with overseeing the negotiations.

Hawley isn’t alone in arguing for fresh payments. Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have been calling for more payments, arguing that people who are at risk of eviction need more than a halt to the proceedings that could leave them homeless.

«What I have real concerns about is the American people thinking Congress struck a deal we’re getting COVID relief, and then their lives changing very little, if nothing on a material basis, Ocasio-Cortez told a reporter pool on Capitol Hill last week, acknowledging that something is better than nothing, but added, «If they don’t get a stimulus check, then relief isn’t going to be felt in their lives. Not in a substantive way.

Ocasio-Cortez said she will support the legislation, which includes money for hospitals and hard-hit state and local governments, but she thinks Congress needs to do more.

Adding another round of similar checks would increase the total cost of the package currently being negotiated by nearly one-third. The push from Hawley comes as leaders are narrowing in on a deal but remain in conflict over GOP demands to ban COVID-19 related liability lawsuits.

Democrats included a new round of direct payments in the two larger coronavirus aid packages that passed the House in May and October. The bipartisan bill that is being used as a starting point for the current negotiations does not include the checks. Democrats generally support adding checks to the talks if Senate Republicans will agree, according to several aides.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told reporters he’s talked to Hawley and is working «24/7 right now with anybody and everybody to get stimulus checks added to any deal.

«I think Trump supporters out there like everybody else are hurting right now. Many have lost their jobs, many are struggling with issues of eviction. They want that $1,200, and I hope that the Republican leadership and members of the Republican caucus understand that, Sanders said.

Democrats are hoping to pass a new round of aid quickly after President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.