Unanimous consent effort to increase relief payments to $2K blocked in House

December 24, 2020 Amber7 US 0

File – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is pictured. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:05 AM PT – Thursday, December 24, 2020

House Democrats failed to increase COVID-19 relief payments after an effort to find unanimous consent was blocked. According to reports Thursday, House Democrats attempted to advance a bill to provide $2,000 payments to Americans.

This would have marked a significant bump up from the $600 payments approved earlier this week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House would try to pass the bill by unanimous consent, however, the move was rejected.

President Trump has threatened to oppose the approved $900 billion relief bill due to the $600 direct payments, which he said should be much more.

Meanwhile, House Democrats are still pushing ahead on calls to increase stimulus payments included in the new coronaviurs relief bill.

During a speech on the House floor Thursday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Democrats have finally found common ground with the President when it comes to boosting direct payments.

Since Democrat-led effort failed to meet unanimous consent early Thursday, Rep. Hoyer is now calling on President Trump to intervene in the legislation.

“Democrats agree with the President, at least to the extent that we need to sign this bill now,” stated the representative. “Six hundred dollars is certainly not enough for individuals who have been struggling these past seven months and it isn’t enough to provide the boost our economy needs.”

Lawmakers are expected to take up the issue again on Monday when the House readjourns.