GOP blocks Democrats’ bid for $2K payments Trump demanded

House Republicans blocked Democrats’ attempt to meet President Donald Trump’s demand to pay most Americans $2,000 to help weather the coronavirus pandemic.

House Republicans blocked Democrats’ attempt to meet President Donald Trump’s demand to pay most Americans $2,000 to help weather the coronavirus pandemic.

Republicans objected to the bill House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer sought to pass by unanimous consent Thursday to replace the $600 payments in the latest pandemic relief legislation with the $2,000 payments.

CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
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Brian Nelson Ford currently serves as the financial well-being executive for SunTrust Banks. Brian is an accomplished and well-respected author, speaker and financial expert. In addi­tion to The 8 Pillars of Financial Greatness, he has authored an award-winning children’s book titled Marshmallows and Bikes – Teaching Children (and Adults) Personal Finance. Brian received bachelor’s degrees in business management and marriage, family and human development. He also received a master’s degree in personal finance. Brian has delivered recent keynote addresses to a number of global Fortune 500 companies, including Home Depot, Havertys, 1-800 Contacts and Delta. In addition, Brian has been widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on the design, implementation and measurement of workplace financial wellness programs.

Brian Nelson is a recognized figure in the Bitcoin and blockchain technology ecosystem. He has presented at numerous industry events across the country on topics ranging from MSB compliance, issues with mass adoption and how blockchain technology is fueling the personal empowerment movement. He also served as a director of the National Money Transmitters Association where he helped develop digital currency initiatives. Brian is also a leading surety bond broker in the money service business space and was the first broker to bring a surety bond solution to digital currency companies. Brian is involved in multiple projects and enjoys helping both financial and non-financial organizations understand how exponential technologies like the blockchain will impact their businesses.

Nicolas Gilot is Co-CEO of Ultra.

“House and Senate Democrats have repeatedly fought for bigger checks for the American people, which House and Senate Republicans have repeatedly rejected — first, during our negotiations when they said that they would not go above $600 and now, with this act of callousness on the Floor,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Thursday.

Democrats will try again with a roll call vote on a new bill Dec. 28, when the House also plans a vote to override Trump’s veto on the National Defense Authorization Act. Since current government spending runs out that day — and funds for the rest of the fiscal year are included in the virus relief bill Trump criticized and hasn’t signed -- the House could also pass another stopgap measure to avert a partial government shutdown.

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A runner stands near the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
Oliver Contreras/Bloomberg

Republicans on Thursday tried to seek unanimous consent on a measure to examine taxpayer money spent on foreign aid, but Democrats blocked that move. In his complaint Tuesday about Congress’s combined virus aid and government spending bill, Trump criticized federal resources spent on international programs, even though that spending was allocated as part of the bipartisan appropriations process.