Democrats REJECT Republican ‘skinny bill’ as future of $1,200 stimulus checks is still undecided

DEMOCRATS have rejected the Republican “skinny bill” as the future of the $1,200 stimulus checks is still undecided.

A vote on the Republican‘s targeted stimulus package called the Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act, which offers about $500billion in coronavirus relief, took place on Thursday.

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AFP or licensors

AFP or licensors

A total of 60 votes were needed, but the result was 52 to 47.

In the new package, GOP lawmakers were not offering another round of stimulus checks.

Initially, it appeared Republicans would include the $1,200 stimulus checks, but instead, their latest bill offered an additional $300 a week in extra unemployment benefits through the end of the year, $105billion for schools, $10billion for the Postal Service, and $258billion for the Paycheck Protection Program.

It also included limited liability for bosses related to COVID lawsuits, as well as $47billion for vaccines and testing.

However there is still hope in the Republicans‘ $1trillion Heals Act, which hasn’t been put to a vote since it was put forward in July.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said they “want to agree where bipartisan agreement is possible [and] get more help out the door and then keep arguing over the rest later” – but Democrats aren’t budging.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill was “fraudulent.”

“This emaciated bill is only intended to help vulnerable Republican Senators by giving them a ‘check-the-box’ vote to maintain the appearance that they’re not held hostage by their extreme right-wing that doesn’t want to spend a nickel to help people,” the pair said in a joint statement.