(Washington, D.C) – President Donald Trump’s push for more money for Americans took a big step towards becoming a reality after the House voted overwhelmingly to proceed with higher stimulus payouts.  The original plans laid out in the COVID-19 relief bill the President signed Sunday would see citizens who earn less than $75,000 per year getting an additional $600 to go along with the $1,200 checks from earlier this year.  In a statement Sunday President Trump said, “”As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child.  Much more money is coming. I will never give up my fight for the American people!”

After bipartisan approval by the House, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned, “There is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way.”  “There’s strong support for these $2,000 emergency checks from every corner of the country,” Schumer said in a statement late Monday. He called on McConnell to make sure the Senate helps “meet the needs of American workers and families who are crying out for help.”

The bill now goes to the Senate and will be a test to see if Republicans who have rejected higher payouts in the past hold firm or move in lockstep with the President. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is expected to look for unanimous consent to override the President’s veto of the defense bill which also cleared the house.   At this point McConnell has yet to speak publicly on his approach to the issue,

Vermont Senator and former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders took to social media to share that he planned to filibuster on the veto until the Senate moves to vote on the larger stimulus checks.  The defense bill veto is expected to be introduced at today’s session.