The U.S. Senate is expected to vote in the coming days on overtaking President Donald Trump’s beast on an annual defense policy bill, which could deal with Trump first his veto takes over and puts Republicans in an unusual position of publicly pushing the president.
Senate Republicans are in political ties after a majority of bipartisans in the House of Representatives agreed to an increase in stimulus calls that President Donald Trump demanded to $ 2,000 per U.S. citizen.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday was unable to get permission quickly in the Senate to move forward with a veto over as Democrats tried to pressure Republican $ Another 484 bn put in direct incentive payments to U.S. citizens. Realizing that “the president wants more direct financial support for American households”, McConnell refused to allow a Senate vote on studies to increase COVID-19 relief to $ 2,000 per person. that he move to force a vote on the defense bill by the end of the week.
“For the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, failure is not an option. So when Congress has a chance to fail that is no longer an option, ”McConnell said.
Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who has backed higher direct payments to Americans, continued to threaten to prevent the Senate from moving swiftly to overcome the Trump beast.
“There is more economic crisis in this country’s working class than ever since the Great Depression of the 1930s and working families now need help. Not next year. But for now, ”said Sanders.
This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to get over Trump’s beast of the $ 740 billion defense funding bill and then return home for the New Year.
I’m going to complain until we get a vote on legislation to give the working class just $ 2,000 in pay.
– Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) 28 December 2020
U.S. House voted 322-87, including 109 Republicans, to cross the crossroads Monday – easily clearing the required two-thirds voting threshold. The bill passed the Senate 84-13 earlier this month, well above the 67 votes needed to pass.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduces a 3 percent pay rise for U.S. troops and authorizes more than $ 740bn for weapons and construction programs.
But Trump, who blocked the bill last week, complained about various provisions in the bill, including changing the names of military bases that honor Confederate leaders. It is also disappointing that the bill does not include language that would protect social media companies, something that the authors of the legislation say is not relevant to a protection policy bill.
In his veto, Trump said the bill “fails to introduce emergency national security measures, including provisions that do not respect our veterans and the history of our military , and goes against my Administration ‘s efforts to put America first in our national security and foreign policy activities. It is a ‘gift’ to China and Russia. “
On Tuesday, after the vote went over the House, Trump shook weak and tired Republican “leadership” and demanded, “Negotiate a better bill, or get better leaders, NOW! The Senate should not approve NDAA until it is repaired !!! “
…. Removed and taken home from a foreign land that does nothing for us. An embarrassing act of cowardice and full submission by weak people to Big Tech. Better bill negotiation, or get better leaders, NOW! The Senate should not approve NDAA until it is repaired !!!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 29 December 2020
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe argued that the bill, which has been uncontested every year since 1961, must become law.
“The NDAA has been the law every year for 59 years just because it is absolutely vital for our national security and our troops,” Inhofe said. “This year cannot be an exception.”
The Senate cannot vote on the NDAA if a member disagrees, under unanimous consent rules.
Senate Republican leaders have been silent where they stand on the idea of paying Trump just $ 2,000. He shocked Congress last week and delayed signing a pandemic relief bill while complaining about the “measly” $ 600 payment in the bill.
The House voted to increase direct payments on Monday, with strong support from Democrats.
It is unclear whether Senate Republicans will raise the issue as many conservatives oppose larger payments, despite Trump’s support for the idea, arguing that they will spend hundreds of billions. of dollars to the federal government’s pandemic relief costs.
Trump’s push for the $ 2,000 payments has been opposed by many Republicans, something that hasn’t happened often during his presidency. In the House, 130 Republicans voted against the increase Monday and Senate Republican leaders did not respond to Trump’s shyness for the idea.
On Tuesday, Trump reiterated pressure on Senate Republicans to bypass the larger payments, suggesting their opposition is a “death wish” and their political futures are in jeopardy unless do those.
Unless a Republican has a death wish, which is also the right thing to do, they have to approve the $ 2000 payments ASAP. NO $ 600! Also, delete Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let Democrats steal Presidential Election. Get sorry! https://t.co/GMotstu7OI
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 29 December 2020
Some Senate Republicans, however, have expressed support for the rise, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, and Georgia Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who are up for election next week. in two runaways which will decide which party will control the Senate next year.
Both Republicans in Georgia had opposed the issuance of more federal funds when Congress debated and passed the COVID-19 relief package signed by the president on Sunday which caters for $ 600 reviews.
But now, with a potentially difficult vote in the Senate in which they would have to vote against the politically popular notion of increased scrutiny, Loeffler and Purdue announced on Twitter the support for the idea.
I agree with him @realDonaldTrump – We need to deliver relief checks of just $ 2,000 to Americans.
– Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) 29 December 2020
President @realdonaldtrump right – I support this push for $ 2,000 as a direct relief to the American people. https://t.co/Al3USM7zPr
– David Perdue (@Perduesenate) 29 December 2020
Democrat leader Senator Chuck Schumer said the step of increasing the stimulus polls from $ 600 to $ 2,000 would pass the Senate if McConnell allowed the vote.
“We should not delay it until the Senate holds a vote on both measures, the NDAA veto overrides and the house bill to give $ 2,000 checks to the American people,” Schumer said.
“The simple solution is, put both bills up, or a simple vote up or down, and then let the slits fall where they could,” Schumer said.