Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced on Monday night his plan to filibuster the Senate’s vote on a bipartisan defense bill, which had been vetoed by President Donald Trump, in order to force a vote on giving Americans $2,000 relief checks amid COVID-19.
“This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnell wants to vote to override Trump’s veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year,” Sanders tweeted. “I’m going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class.”
Trump, who had threatened to veto Congress’ sweeping COVID-19 relief package if its relief checks were not increased from $600 to $2,000 before ultimately signing the bill anyway, backed the Vermont senator.
“Give the people $2000, not $600. They have suffered enough!” Trump tweeted in response to a report on Sanders’ plan.
Democrats have pounced on the President’s push for larger payments, turning the screws on Republican senators ahead of the Georgia Senate runoffs on January 5, which will determine whether the GOP will keep its majority in the chamber. The House passed its legislation on $2,000 payments on Monday.
