Dec 24, 2020 - Economy

House Republicans reject Trump-backed $2,000 COVID relief proposal

Kadia Goba

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at the podium during a news conference on December 20. — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill on Dec. 20, 2020. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is bringing Congress back to the Capitol on Monday to vote on a proposal to hike coronavirus relief payments to $2,000, after Republicans rejected a move to approve the measure by unanimous consent.

Why it matters: The long-shot attempt came after President Trump suggested he wouldn't sign the coronavirus relief bill — which includes a trillion-dollar government funding measure to avoid a government shutdown on Monday — unless Congress increased the direct payments from $600 to $2,000.

What they're saying: “Today, on Christmas Eve morning, House Republicans cruelly deprived the American people of the $2,000 that the President agreed to support," Pelosi said in a release. "If the President is serious about the $2,000 direct payments, he must call on House Republicans to end their obstruction."

Be smart: The president also rattled off a number of other gripes he had about the measure, so even if Congress passes the $2,000 direct payment measure there's still no guarantee Trump signs the mega bill.

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House Republicans reject Trump-backed $2,000 COVID relief proposal

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