The only thing standing between the American public and a $2,000 check is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown told reporters on Wednesday.
Enough Republicans in the Senate support giving citizens a $2,000 stimulus check to weather the pandemic, Brown, D-Ohio, said by phone as he drove back to Washington.
The House of Representatives on Monday approved increasing the one-time aid payments from $600 to $2,000 275-134 with 44 Republicans voting in support.
McConnell then blocked the Senate from an immediate vote increasing the one-time payments from $600 to $2,000. Instead, he tied the additional aid to legislation that would also repeal legal immunity to tech companies and launch investigations into election integrity.
"There's not a question this will pass," Brown said. "That is why McConnell is playing these games. He doesn't want it to pass."
Brown called on McConnell to bring the increase in aid up for a straight vote, unattached to other issues. Brown wouldn't say whether he would vote on McConnell's current stimulus proposal with the other issues attached, saying he needs to "see what McConnell is doing up close."
"It’s why people don’t like Washington," Brown said. "Because Mitch McConnell is always trying to obstruct on behalf of the richest people in the country."
The Enquirer asked McConnell's office why McConnell hasn't brought increasing the aid for a straight vote. His office sent a statement from McConnell praising Trump for the $600 aid signed into law.
McConnell said the president wants to see "Congress tackle together" three issues of aid, tech company immunity and election security.
"Those are the three important subjects the president has linked together," McConnell said in the statement. "This week, the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus."
Brown said he and his fellow minority Democratic senators "going to try everything we can to get a vote" on increasing the aid.
Why is the additional $1,400 important?
"It's pretty simple," Brown said. "The best way to help Ohio workers is to put more money in their pockets."
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