After months and months of back and forth, in December, Congress finally approved a relief package that included a second stimulus check for millions of Americans, however most people who are getting the direct payment are disappointed with it. That's because unlike the initial stimulus check, which gave $1,200 to all eligible recipients, the second one is only for $600.
While there were attempts to increase that amount to $2,000, and both the President and the House of Representatives were in favor of them, ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the increase, calling it "socialism for the rich" because he felt it would have benefitted wealthy people not impacted by the pandemic, rather than targeting just those in need. However, all hope for a $2,000 stimulus check is not lost, but it all depends on one condition.
On Monday, during a campaign event for Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, the Democrats running for Senate in today's election in Georgia, President-Elect Joe Biden made a bold statement, announcing that if the two are elected, "$2,000 checks will go out the door."
Biden has been in support of more direct payments to Americans in need, and if both Ossoff and Warnock win Senate seats, it will flip control of the chamber to the Democrats, taking the power to block bills away from McConnell. Since Democrats already control the House and, after Biden is inaugurated on January 20, they'll control the Executive branch, they will be able to pass acts they support more easily. Of those, it is especially likely another stimulus bill will pass then since there were Republican senators in favor of it as well.
Both Senate races in today's Georgia election are said to be extremely close. Meanwhile, the $600 stimulus checks have already started going out to recipients.
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