Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked the effort to quickly pass a measure to increase direct stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D), attempted to pass the change to the spending bill through a unanimous consent request on the Senate floor. The House passed the increase to stimulus payments earlier in the week with wide bipartisan support. Democratic leaders have cited President Donald Trump’s criticism of the $600 payments as too low and the GOP President’s push to increase the stimulus checks in their effort to pass the change through the Senate.
