Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has reportedly described Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s call to bundle Section 230 revisions and voter fraud investigations with a bill authorizing $2,000 stimulus checks as a “poison pill” that will “muddy the waters” when Democrats are asked to vote for higher stimulus payments.
Multiple sources reported Tuesday that Sanders told Hill reporters that McConnell’s proposal is “a poison [pill]. I don’t know what he has in mind, but the House passed, to their credit, a simple straight forward bill. Let’s not muddy the waters. Are you for $2,000 or are you not?”
From colleague Jason Donner. Sanders on McConnell packaging $2,000 checks with something on voter fraud: Of course it’s a poison (pill).. Let’s not muddy the waters. Are you for $2,000 or are you not?”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 29, 2020
Sanders to Hill reporters on McConnell's plans to package $2K bill w/voter fraud & Sect 230 reform:"It’s a poison (pill).I don’t know what he has in mind,but House passed,to their credit, a simple straight forward bill.Let’s not muddy the waters.Are you for $2000 or are you not?"
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) December 29, 2020
President Donald Trump responded to McConnell’s announcement with a tweet Tuesday afternoon that read, “Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough!”
Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2000 payments ASAP. $600 IS NOT ENOUGH! Also, get rid of Section 230 – Don’t let Big Tech steal our Country, and don’t let the Democrats steal the Presidential Election. Get tough! https://t.co/GMotstu7OI
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2020
With a few notable exceptions such as Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), prominent Democrats have only recently shifted to support $2,000 stimulus payments after taking notes of the overwhelmingly positive public response to President Trump’s calls for higher direct payments.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had previously described the paltry $600 direct payments included in the congressional “relief bill” as a “significant” amount.
President Trump has been advocating for $2,000 direct payments for several months, and appears to be pressuring Senate Republicans to bundle the stimulus with one another one of his most valuable wishlist items: investigations into voter fraud.
“As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child,” a statement from the White House said on Sunday.
