Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will not be throwing his support behind a vote on $2,000 stimulus checks.
“Congress should continue helping workers who’ve lost their jobs. But blindly borrowing more than $600 billion so we can send $2,000 checks to millions of people who haven’t lost any income is terrible policy,” Toomey wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
He added, “I won’t consent to a vote on that.”
Congress should continue helping workers who've lost their jobs. But blindly borrowing more than $600 billion so we can send $2,000 checks to millions of people who haven't lost any income is terrible policy. I won't consent to a vote on that. https://t.co/hCOlgcFPnq
— Pat Toomey (US Sen. ret.) (@SenToomey) December 29, 2020
Toomey’s comments come just hours after President Donald Trump called on Republicans to pass the direct payments, as IJR previously reported.
“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!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
He continued, “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!”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blocked a vote on the measure on Tuesday, as IJR previously reported.
Trump signed the $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package into law on Sunday.
During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Toomey explained he understood Trump wants to advocate for larger stimulus checks, but it was critical he sign the measure into law.
“I understand he wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks. But, the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire. So, I think the best thing to do, as I say, is sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation,” Toomey said.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the $600 stimulus checks could be arriving as soon as Tuesday evening.
According to Mnuchin, they will continue arriving next week and the government is expected to mail out paper checks on Wednesday.
