Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersLawmakers urge Trump to sign stimulus-funding package as government shutdown loomsSunday shows – Trump’s COVID-19 relief bill opposition dominatesSanders on Trump’s COVID-19 stimulus response: ‘What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel’MORE (I-Vt.) is planning to slow down the Senate’s vote on overriding President TrumpDonald TrumpNew York Post editorial board calls on President Trump to ‘start thinking’ about Georgia runoffs instead of overturning electionLoeffler, Perdue praise Trump for signing COVID-19 relief legislation after uncertaintyTrump signs .3T relief, spending package MORE’s veto of a mammoth defense policy bill unless leadership agrees to hold a vote on increasing the amount of recently passed coronavirus relief checks from $600 to $2,000.
Sanders announced his plans in a tweet Monday as the House passed legislation to boost the amount of the direct payments included in the $2.3 trillion package signed by Trump on Sunday night.
“This week on the Senate floor Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump signs .3T relief, spending package GOP Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair says he’ll vote in favor of ,000 checksFive GOP senators to watch in next month’s Electoral College fightMORE wants to vote to override Trump’s veto of the $740 billion defense funding bill and then head home for the New Year. I’m going to object until we get a vote on legislation to provide a $2,000 direct payment to the working class,” Sanders tweeted.
A spokesman for Sanders confirmed that he will object to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) setting up a vote on the veto override of the defense bill until a proposal to increase the amount of the direct payments to $2,000 is also voted on.
Sanders can’t ultimately prevent the Senate from voting on whether or not to override Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which initially passed the Senate earlier this month in a 84-13 vote, with Sanders voting “no” at the time.
But McConnell is likely to have to move to break a rare filibuster of the veto override effort, forcing it to overcome a 60-vote procedural hurdle and delaying a final vote on Trump’s veto message for days until later this week. The veto override will ultimately need a two-thirds vote to pass the Senate.
In addition to Sanders, Sen. Ed MarkeyEd MarkeyLawmakers urge Trump to sign stimulus-funding package as government shutdown loomsBrother of Biden adviser Ricchetti hired as lobbyist at AmazonLeft ramps up pressure on Biden for lobbying ethics pledgeMORE (D-Mass.) said he would similarly slow down the NDAA vote in an effort to get one on increasing the amount of direct assistance provided as part of the $2.3 trillion package.
“I will be joining @BernieSanders in blocking the defense bill until we get a vote on $2000 in direct cash relief. That relief passed in the House today with 44 Republicans voting for it. Senate Republicans must do the same and get the American people the help they need,” Markey tweeted.
Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerNew York Democratic Party chairman warns Ocasio-Cortez against challenging SchumerSunday shows preview: COVID-19 relief waiting on Trump’s signature; government continues vaccine roll out Trump and Pelosi should unite for ,000 relief checks MORE (D-N.Y.) is expected to try to clear the House-passed bill increasing the amount of direct assistance through the Senate on Tuesday. But because it will only take one senator to block his request, he’s expected to fall short.
Senate leaders were likely to already have to jump through the days-long procedural hoops on the veto override. Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneFive GOP senators to watch in next month’s Electoral College fightTrump criticizes Senate Republicans ahead of election results vote, urges a ‘fight’Biden faces fight with Congress for more coronavirus reliefMORE (R-S.D.), McConnell’s No. 2, predicted earlier this month that there would be objections to a quick vote on whether or not to override Trump’s veto.
The Senate will return on Tuesday, with McConnell previously announcing that they would have the “opportunity to process a veto override” if it passed the House, which it did on Monday in an 322-87 vote. The House vote marked the first time either chamber has been able to successfully override one of Trump’s nine vetoes.
Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulFive GOP senators to watch in next month’s Electoral College fightMeghan McCain says Merry Christmas to all except ‘healthy people under 65’ getting vaccine before front-line workersGOP Sen. Rick Scott, staff to wait to get COVID-19 vaccineMORE (R-Ky.) signaled to reporters earlier this month that he intended to slow down the Senate’s consideration of the veto.
I very much am opposed to the Afghan war, and Ive told them Ill come back to try to prevent them from easily overriding the presidents veto, Paul told reporters.
