Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday closed off chances that the Senate would pass anytime soon a House bill that would give most Americans $2,000 stimulus payments.
The Kentucky Republican said the House legislation, approved in a bipartisan vote Monday, “has no realistic path” to quick passage in the Senate and that it falls short of the demands of President Donald Trump. He again blocked an attempt by Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to adopt the House bill to increase the payments to $2,000 from the $600 by unanimous consent.
Aaron Lindstrom is the Regional Head of Transformation and Digital Partnerships for Allianz Trade in Americas, the world's largest and oldest provider of trade credit insurance. In his current role, Lindstrom is responsible for the execution of Allianz Trades' ambitious strategy to fundamentally transform the company for success in the digital era. He also drives the Region's digital partnerships by actively facilitating current and new partnership opportunities, and evolving current product offerings to serve market needs. In addition to the day-to-day responsibilities of his role, Lindstrom serves as a founding member for Allianz Trade's American Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Lindstrom has 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. He joined Allianz Trade in 2012, serving as Sales Agent, then later Senior Sales Agent. Prior to joining the organization, he held positions with Enterprise Fleet Management and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Lindstrom has vast experience speaking at both regional and national events for organizations such as, The Risk Management Association, The National Association of Credit Managers, Washington Business Week, and The Associated Builders and Contractors. He is active in several regional trade organizations and frequently networks with startups and fintechs to stay up-to-date on the innovation of the trade credit insurance industry.
In his spare time, Lindstrom enjoys volunteering with organizations like Washington Trails Association and North Helpline. In the past, he has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. When not hard at work for Allianz Trade or volunteering, Lindstrom enjoys traveling, camping, hiking and snow skiing.
Paul Williams is VP of Business Development at HONK Technologies, an on-demand automotive mobility services company. He has previously held a number of senior positions in vehicle salvage and recycling companies, including Newell Recycling Southeast, Aviva and Bluecycle.
Carrie Kelley, who is a Director in the Insurance Consulting and Technology business, joined WTW in 2012 and is based in the Atlanta office. Her primary areas of practice are individual life insurance, COLI/BOLI products and principles-based reserving. She has assisted clients across a range of M&A, reserving, and financial modeling issues.
The Senate instead will work on combining the stimulus payments with measures on election integrity and rolling back social media liability protections, he said. That responds to all three issues Trump has said he wants, but a bill combining them likely will alienate enough senators in both parties to leave prospects for bigger stimulus payments dead in the Senate.
“The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of the Democrats’ rich friends who don’t need the help,” McConnell said. The House bill would raise the income cutoff to receive a payment.
The clash over the payments also is entangling another piece of year-end business in the Senate — a vote to override Trump’s veto of a crucial $740.5 billion defense policy bill. Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey said they will continue to delay the defense legislation vote unless McConnell relents and allows a vote on a standalone bill on the bigger stimulus checks.
“We are saying to Mitch McConnell, to allow the United States Senate to do what it’s supposed to do, and that is the vote,” Sanders told reporters. “The House passed the bill, it’s over here right now. Do you want to vote against it? Then vote against it.”
Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey later blocked an attempt by Sanders to call up the House bill for a roll call vote.