Pelosi slams Mitch McConnell for blocking $2,000 checks and says Republicans are standing by while millions suffer
NANCY Pelosi slammed Mitch McConnell’s block of a new stimulus bill as “holding up the distribution” of much needed economic support to millions of Americans.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the House Speaker addressed the Senate stalemate that has halted Donald Trump’s push to increase stimulus checks to $2000 – and said Republican lawmakers were standing by while millions suffer.
Blasting the decision by Republican senators – including leader Mitch McConnell – to block the bill , she told reporters: “These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people’s sadness.”
Pelosi went on to say that Republicans were “in denial” of the plight of many Americans who are relying on stimulus checks.
She continued: “In blocking it they are in denial of the hardship American people are experiencing – health wise, financially.
“In many ways their lives and livelihoods are on the brink.
“So they are in denial of this need, by denying this benefit. I do hope that in the days ahead- there are only a few days left in this session – that they will see the light and understand the suffering that is going on in our country.”
“These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people’s sadness,” she added.
It comes as Pelosi braces for several Democrat reps to vote against her bid to be re-elected as House Speaker on January 3.
Pelosi – the first ever female elected to speaker – in November announced her bid to secure a fourth two-year term in the position.
But GOP leader Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday said she was “hanging on by a thread” – and that at least 10 Democrats who voted against her would do the same in 2021.
President Trump, who not only called the nominal $600 a disgrace but also threatened to veto the bill, has called on Republicans to pass the $2,000 checks “ASAP”.
After the Democratic-led House approved the $2,000 payments by a two-thirds super-tracked majority on Monday night, it was sent to the Senate on Tuesday – but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked its passing twice.
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McConnell filed a rival bill that couples the $2,000 stimulus checks with the full repeal of section 230 and a probe of election fraud.
All are items desired by Trump but, together in one legislative package, could prove impossible for Democrats to stomach, and fail to become law.
His bill, filed with the Senate on Tuesday night, offers to ‘increase the additional 2020 recovery rebates, to repeal section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes,’ according to its