Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) Plans to scrap the Senate’s right of veto over the bipartisan defense bill unless the chamber holds a vote on the $ 2,000 stimulus payments included in the COVID bill, Politico reported Monday.
Why it matters: While Sanders is unlikely to end the vote on the veto, delaying it until New Years Day could create new hurdles for the Republican Party.
- Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Has not yet announced plans for a vote on the stimulus controls.
The big picture: “The American people are desperate and the Senate must do its job before leaving town,” Sanders told Politico. “It would be unscrupulous, especially after the House has done the right thing, for the Senate to simply leave Washington without voting on this.”
- This delay tactic would lead to disruption of Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.) And Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Who are campaigning for their Jan. Georgia runoff races for Senate control.
- Keeping them in DC would have the race focused on their lack of explicit support for the payments, Politico writes, which their challengers have endorsed.
- It is not known whether the $ 2,000 direct payments have enough support among Republicans to make it to the Senate. At least 13 Republicans should cross the aisle.
- President Trump signed the emergency response on Sunday, but urged Congress to increase the direct payments originally outlined from $ 600 to $ 2,000 per person.
What to watch: The senate is expected to vote Tuesday on the right to veto the defense bill.