Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has indicated he will allow the Senate to discuss the House bill, championed by President Donald Trump, that would increase direct stimulus payments to $2,000 per individual. McConnell has indicated that the issue is inextricably tied to voter fraud investigations and a Section 230 rework, and will be considered this week.
Multiple reports indicate McConnell has agreed to the President’s demands for the Senate to take up the House’s bill for $2,000 direct stimulus payments, begin investigations into the credible accusations of widespread voter fraud in battleground states, and reexamine or gut Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
It was reported that McConnell initially did not intend to discuss raising the direct stimulus to $2,000, but Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) indicated he would block the override of President Trump’s veto of the 2020 NDAA if McConnell did not allow for discussion on raising direct stimulus checks.
This comes after multiple Republicans have indicated they support President Trump’s call for an increase to direct stimulus, including both Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), who are facing a tight runoff on January 5.
Perdue wrote, “President @realdonaldtrump is right – I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people.”
President @realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people. https://t.co/Al3USM7zPr
— David Perdue (@Perduesenate) December 29, 2020
Loeffler told Fox News, “I’ve stood by the President 100% of the time, I’m proud to do that,” and when asked specifically about a $2,000 direct stimulus, she continued “I’ve said absolutely, we need to get relief to Americans now, and I will support that.”
At least 12 Republican Senators would need to defect from McConnell’s control and join a bipartisan coalition to pass the $2,000 direct stimulus. Thus far, in addition to Perdue and Loeffler, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) have both indicated they will back larger stimulus checks.
McConnell has now said that voter fraud investigations, Section 230, and the $2,000 checks are “linked together” and the Senate would begin to consider them this week.
MORE – McConnell says President Trump's requests on $2,000 checks, Section 230, and voter fraud are "linked together" and the Senate will begin to consider them this week.
— Disclose.tv
(@disclosetv) December 29, 2020
The House passed a bill allowing for direct stimulus payments of $2,000, for a total of $5,400 per family of four, in a bipartisan majority on Monday evening.
This is a breaking news article and may be updated with additional information.