McConnell: Senate to Address Trump’s Concern Over $2,000 Stimulus Checks Later This Week

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) right, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 15, 2020. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said the upper chamber will address President Donald Trump’s concerns about higher stimulus payments and Section 230 later this week—coming after McConnell blocked unanimous consent on the higher stimulus check amount.

“This week, the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus,” McConnell said on the floor.

The majority leader noted that Trump “highlighted three additional issues of national significance he would like to see Congress tackle together,” including “further direct financial support for American households.” Trump last week said he wanted to see Americans get paid $2,000 instead of $600 in stimulus payments.

“Second is the growing willingness on both sides of the aisle to at least reexamine the special legal protections afforded to technology companies under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, including the ways it benefits some of the most prosperous, most powerful Big Tech firms,” McConnell added.

Trump took issue with the recent defense spending bill, opting to veto it last week because it did not include changes to Section 230.

And for weeks, Trump has said that the election was fraught with voter fraud that needs to be addressed and investigated, adding that he is the rightful winner of the Nov. 3 contest. Election integrity issues will be addressed this week as well, McConnell said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) talks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 8, 2020. Greg Nash/Pool via AP

“Since every American, regardless of their politics, should feel the integrity of our democracy is beyond reproach—is exploring further ways to protect the sanctity of Americans’ ballots, while continuing to respect the federal government’s limited role in standing behind the state and local elections authorities who run elections,” the Kentucky Republican added.

The $2,000 stimulus checks measure was backed by Democrats in the Senate, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) requesting unanimous consent for the CASH Act on Tuesday. Schumer called on GOP senators to approve the measure—known as the CASH Act—ahead of the crucial Senate runoff election on Jan. 5.

“The fastest way to get money into Americans’ pockets is to send some of their tax dollars right back from where they came,” Schumer said on the floor, saying that “$2,000 stimulus checks could mean the difference between American families having groceries for a few extra weeks or going hungry.”

The bill was passed by the House on Monday night, with dozens of Republicans joining.

Several GOP senators have publicly expressed support for the bill.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said that some Republicans “have a death wish” by not supporting the measure.

“They must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230—Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!” he wrote.