Loeffler, Perdue join growing number of Senate Republicans backing $2,000 stimulus checks

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

Two more Senate Republicans on Tuesday expressed support for delivering $2,000 stimulus checks to most Americans, adding to the pressure on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to hold a vote on a proposal that most other members of his party had opposed before President Trump intervened.

The latest calls came from Georgia’s two embattled Republican senators — Sen. David Perdue (R) and Kelly Loeffler — as they find themselves in the midst of a tough re-election battle that will decide the fate of the chamber next week. Both said they supported the $2,000 checks that Trump has sought to advance in recent days. They joined Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who expressed support for the idea on Monday. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is one of the chief proponents of the idea.

“Absolutely, we need to get relief to Americans now, and I will support that,” Loeffler said on Fox News. Perdue, meanwhile, tweeted hours later he backs “this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people.” The House on Monday passed the plussed-up stimulus checs with a broad bipartisan vote. That bill, called the CASH Act, would boost the $600 payments authorized in the massive year-end spending-and-relief package that Trump signed Sunday. The CASH Act would effectively increase the $600 stimulus checks by another $1,400.

Trump and a number of lawmakers have called for the larger stimulus payments amid signs that the economy has worsened in recent months. Under pressure from Trump, Democratic leaders, and some fellow Republicans — as well as a legislative ultimatum delivered Monday by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — McConnell must navigate a path that addresses the president’s concerns without exposing his party to political attacks one week before a pair of Georgia special elections that will determine the Senate majority. The fate of a proposal now rests with McConnell.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/stimulus-checks-senate/2020/12/29/344fa850-49d9-11eb-839a-cf4ba7b7c48c_story.html

---

[mucifer]

1. I keep saying this will work to their advantage. It will pass the senate. they will take the credit

[Turin_C3PO]

3. Still needs to be done though.

There’s millions of Americans who desperately need the $2000 dollars to catch up on rent, mortgages, car payments, etc.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Not when you had 14 million people who jsut got dropped off of their UE

because of a temper tantrum that lasted until 1 day after the extended UE expired.

Those people - many of them DUers - will now have a big payment GAP while their states have to go through all the extra work needed to reprogram their UE systems AND I expect people will need to reapply for it. Plus states have to wait for more guidance on other eligibility criteria that may be in effect, which has been hindered due to the holidays and will probably be slow-walked because some of the people who made the policies, are in the process of exiting the government.

[marlakay]

11. Who cares about credit when

People are hurting? Yes they will use this to polish Trumps turd but its still a turd.

I say take the money and remind everyone of how they were fine with us dying of covid.

[yaesu]

22. A progressive? Dem Rep made that same remark about not liking the direct payment negotiation because

he didn't want tRump sending out letters taking credit. He said this on a progressive talk show, I immediately emailed him giving him hell for it, for being petty when millions of Americans are suffering plus reminding him he just threw negotiations to the wolves. He never mentioned it again on his weekly talk show appearance. IMHO McTurtle will find a way to kill it anyway.

[paleotn]

30. I'm not so sure it will.....

Outside of a couple of notables and the Corporate Barbie / Perdue hail mary, it doesn't have much support among Repukes. They weren't thrilled about another stimulus package of any kind. It took major arm twisting to get even a penny out of them.

[CincyDem]

2. It's political suicide to oppose this a week before the runoff...

Perdue and Loeffler are the "cutting edge" of the issue with no time for voters to forget their actions. The class of 2022 might be concerned that this will be an issue but the classes of 2024 and 2026 don't give a shit about this because it won't be an issue in their elections.

Mitch's calculus will likely be that he's got to shift gears and get behind it or give Schumer the majority desk. What's not clear to me is, other than reversing positions, what's Mitch's rationale for opposition given today's reality.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. "what's Mitch's rationale for opposition given today's reality."

You still have the Grover Norquists of the world working behind the scenes honking the "fiscal responsibility" horn.

The above was from 2012 but it pretty much came to pass EXCEPT they DID get a "Fearless Leader" who chose to go his own way and now they are stuck with him... forever (even when he is out of office).

Because they made a conscious decision to do the tax cuts for the wealthy, they dug themselves into such a hole that there was no way to "plan" for a crises like what we are experiencing right now.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Georgia Senate Republicans endorse $2,000 stimulus checks, breaking silence

POLITICAL INSIDER
| Updated 13 minutes ago

By Tia Mitchell - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greg Bluestein - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

GOP House members from Georgia opposed larger stimulus checks, split on overriding Trump veto

U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on Tuesday endorsed President Donald Trump’s push to increase the size of stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, even as they faced a fresh decision over whether to join the U.S. House vote to override his veto of an annual military spending bill.

The two incumbents each backed the president’s demand for heftier stimulus payments after days of silence over whether they would join an odd coalition comprised of Trump and liberal Democrats -- including their two runoff rivals -- who had rallied behind the more generous checks.

Not doing so meant standing with congressional leaders and other Republicans who supported the spending measure they approved just last week, but it also risked alienating Trump and his loyalists in Georgia, whose support they are relying upon ahead of Jan. 5 runoffs for control of the Senate.

Loeffler said at a campaign stop on Tuesday that she supports it “to provide relief to Americans because Democrats have locked our country down. Perdue tweeted shortly after that he will “support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people.”

More:
https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/house-approval-of-2000-stimulus-veto-override-sets-up-tough-day-for-loeffler-perdue/HYSEBHKSW5AMNGNREKMZM7745Q/

[Bayard]

13. Sad

Sad that this is only about politics for them, nothing to do with helping people.

[LonePirate]

6. That's 4 Repubs. Graham supports it. Collins and Murkowski would likely support it. Need 5 more.

Romney might support it so that brings us to 8 and we need 12 to join all 48 Dems since Kelly replaced McSally. Are there 4 others? Maybe some from the western and plains states? Portman from OH?

[BumRushDaShow]

9. You have Lamar Alexander (R-TN) who is retiring

Cory Gardner (R-CO) who lost to John Hickenlooper (D), so that is potentially 2 more.

It is also possible that since the tides have turned enough where Teabagger Toomey here in PA might support it (he's not running again in 2022), which would make it 3.

And normally Rob Portman, who swings around like a weathervane, would be a wildcard. However he was supposedly publicly pushing to get the initial package passed before they left, so he may go along with this, and that would make 4.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. I just posted a new LBN OP where Turtle rejected taking up the House bill but another (R) supporter

was mentioned supporting the $2000 House bill - Deb Fischer (R-NE).

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142655673

[Blasphemer]

8. Good. It's the right thing. Let's see what the rest of the GOP does.

We just need to make sure the voters in GA know that it was the "Democrat" party holding their feet to the fire this entire time.

[Ford_Prefect]

10. That's the Democratic Party. Conservatives began using the other term to avoid the obvious meaning

and as a slur. We are democrats but the party is The Democratic Party.
The Federalists are particularly at fault. see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet) Although it would appear that Newt Gingrich and Shrub Bush are equally to blame for more recent usage in GOP dogma and political diatribe.
--------------

Columnist Russell Baker wrote in 1976:
The origin of this illiterate phrase, goes back, I believe to the era of Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy ... The chief trouble with "the Democrat party" is that it makes the Republicans saying it sound both illiterate and coy, and, so, is like a shotgun that is all kick and no fire ... A party whose membership is down to 22 percent of the electorate, as the Republican party is, hardly needs ways to irritate voters from the opposing party whom it must seduce if it is to succeed.

--------------

In March 2009, after Representative Jeb Hensarling (R–Texas) repeatedly used the phrase Democrat Party when questioning U.S. Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D–Ohio) said:

I'd like to begin by saying to my colleague from Texas that there isn't a single member on this side of the aisle that belongs to the "Democrat Party". We belong to the Democratic Party. So the party you were referring to doesn't even exist. And I would just appreciate the courtesy when you're referring to our party ... to refer to it as such.

[moriah]

12. ... may be making an assumption, but presuming....

.... that poster knew that, by the quotes around the word.

I haven't checked edit history tho or anything.

Edit to add: also presuming the quotes were used to indicate the word was not entirely correct/what people have said vs what is real, and not committing a Word Crime(tm) by using them for emphasis.

[Ford_Prefect]

15. Personally I prefer not to sink to their level on any occasion. "Stupid is as Stupid" does IMO.

They insist on their own language and version of the truth. They insult intelligence and humanity whenever possible as a declaration of their own hubris and alleged superiority.
I insist that they are not to be encouraged or tolerated. There are 2 ways to deal with bullies. One is to confront them with the truth about which they are most uncomfortable. The other involves kicking them until they stop getting up. Either method works but one is considerably harder on the furniture.

[Blasphemer]

17. Yes, that is what meant by the quotes. It was facetious. nt

[FakeNoose]

14. Dear fellow Democrats

... maybe we should let the Repukes take credit for this. It's really their last chance to do anything at all, after 4 years of doing basically NOTHING except bend over for Chump.

If they want to take credit, OK let's let them have it. Just make sure this gets done because too many people are hurting right now. Too many Americans are grasping their last straw.

If the Repukes don't get this stimulus payment up to $2K per person, we know that it will happen in the next session. When it does happen, Joe Biden will get all the credit. We know that, and so do they.

Let's see if Repukes can really do something good for their constituents, just this once.

[mvd]

16. True, but I wish people would remember who really fought for bigger checks

It was Pelosi, Schumer, Sanders, more Dems, and even Hawley. Trump did nothing until the last minute and most Repukes opposed ANY checks at first.

[FakeNoose]

19. Yes it's true - but expediency is more to the point

The political credit can be worked out later.

Helping Americans right now - that's what needs to happen.

[marlakay]

18. We have less people in congress

Next session and senate will block it, so I don't see it happening next time either. They have already said they are giving Joe no wins why Georgia is so important.

But I agree they can take the credit, people need help.

[ancianita]

28. They mightdo something good, but Democrats should take all the credit during the GA runoff.

Right up to election day. Let the GA voters show what the venal and opportunist Perdue & Loeffler really deserve -- to lose.

[HUAJIAO]

35. Thank you!!

I hope our side already has ads ready to go on just this issue that it was WE who got the $2000(if it goes through) And even if it doesn't that those two fascists actually opposed it and just voted yes to win an election....

[ancianita]

36. You bet! GIVE. REPUBLICANS. NOTHING. GIVE OURSELVES ALL THE CREDIT!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

20. The desire to be reelected is a hell of a motivater.

[efhmc]

23. Not getting to vote on it so now they can say anything.

[bluestarone]

33. THIS!

[Ferrets are Cool]

24. It's a win/win for them. They are for the survival checks, but McTurtle will not even let it come up

for a vote. The only one that loses is McTurtle and the millions who actually need the money.

[beachbumbob]

25. no matter how this goes, McConnell and GOP on defense in runup to runoff election

from a political theater view, this is priceless to watch, from a suffering american family its agonizing. McConnell/GOP are screwed now no matter what McConnell does or doesn't do.

the safe way is NO vote on bill BUT almost guarantee's democrats win both senate seats

[packman]

26. I don't know why- but

I laffed my head off when I read this - seems like it's cosmic humor

[nwduke]

27. The only reason Loeffler and Perdue are supporting this

is because they know Moscow Mitch will object to it. They're doing it strictly for votes, not for the people of Georgia! Slimeballs to the end! It's the ultimate socialism move which they abhor! Vote them out!

[cstanleytech]

29. Wonder if disabled dependent's are going to get screwed again.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. Just spent about 30 minutes looking it up

and apparently yes, if they are over 17.

[cstanleytech]

34. Surprised the Democrats did not demand a fix for that.

[BumRushDaShow]

37. According to one article (can't find it again)

it was in an earlier version of the bill when still in negotiations but was eventually dropped in favor of picking up a group that did not get any the first go-around - "mixed immigrant households", with at least one person with a SS # and/or green card, plus it would provide the full $600 to each dependent child vs less than half the adult amount that happened the last go-around ($500 per child with $1200 each for parent(s) with the first stimulus). So it appears they were doing some shuffling of the money.

I'm not sure what is in the $2000 supplement bill, although I am guessing it is just a straight up supplement with no riders.

[cstanleytech]

38. Going to be cold comfort though for families struggling financially while also trying to support

a disabled relative.

[LiberalLovinLug]

32. Too bad Mitch, if you would have accepted $1200 earlier, this woudl not be happening.