Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, along with Democratic New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have drafted a one-page amendment to the coronavirus relief bill calling to increase the support checks to $2,000 per person.
Me and @AOC have the amendment ready. Send the bill back, and we will put in the $2,000 we’ve been fighting for that your party has been blocking. pic.twitter.com/GGXtJt77D9
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) December 23, 2020
Lame duck president Donald Trump said Tuesday night that he would support a $2,000 check, which will put Republicans in Congress in a corner because they’re the ones who reduced the amount, claiming fiscal conservatism for the first time in four years.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has supported an increased payment, and said that she would such an amendment to the floor of the House where it would pass by unanimous consent.
Republicans would feel pressure to reject such a proposal, due to their previous stated conviction against higher payouts. Rejecting the proposal, however, would likely cost votes for Republican Senate in the Georgia runoffs.