Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is taking a different approach to the new COVID-19 relief package than President Donald Trump and some other lawmakers.
Graham acknowledged there are still improvements that need to be made to the nearly $900 billion package but suggested it is a good place to start.
“The [COVID19] package, while imperfect, will save jobs and lives. The sooner the bill becomes law – the better. It will allow millions of businesses to avoid bankruptcy, deliver vaccines even faster, help those unemployed, and provide money for families who are struggling,” Graham tweeted on Tuesday.
He added, “Relief is on the way as soon as the bill becomes law.”
Relief is on the way as soon as the bill becomes law.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 23, 2020
In a video he released on Twitter on Tuesday, Trump called on Congress to increase the amount in the stimulus checks, as IJR previously reported.
“Despite all of this wasteful spending, and much more, the $900 billion package provides hard-working taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments,” Trump said.
He also said, “I’m asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple.”
On Wednesday, Graham took to Twitter to clarify he does agree with Trump’s call for larger stimulus checks.
“I support President [Donald Trump]’s demand to increase direct payments for long-suffering Americans to $2,000 per person,” Graham wrote.
I support President @realDonaldTrump's demand to increase direct payments for long-suffering Americans to $2,000 per person.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 23, 2020
And I also support his call to end Section 230 Big Tech legal liability protections.
Let’s vote.
Trump received support from other Democratic Congress members, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), as IJR previously reported.
“Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks. At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 — Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!” Pelosi wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
Schumer expressed his support for the president’s suggestion and urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to join them.
“Whaddya say, Mitch? Let’s not get bogged down with ideological offsets and unrelated items and just DO THIS! The American people deserve it.” He tweeted.