Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is throwing his support behind President Donald Trump’s push to increase stimulus checks in the latest COVID-19 relief bill from $600 to $2,000 for individuals.
In a statement on Monday, Rubio said, “I agree with the President that millions of working class families are in dire need of additional relief, which is why I support $2,000 in direct payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic.”
“I share many of my colleagues’ concern about the long-term effects of additional spending, but we cannot ignore the fact that millions of working class families across the nation are still in dire need of relief,” he continued.
He went on to urge Congress to “quickly pass legislation to increase direct payments to Americans to $2,000.”
Trump threatened not to sign an $892 trillion relief package unless Congress increased the stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000. However, he relented from his threat and signed the bill on Sunday night.
The House voted on Monday to increase the stimulus checks. However, the fate of the bill in the Republican-controlled Senate is unclear. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have voiced support for the increase.
But others such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have dismissed the idea. During an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday, Paul said, “I think giving money to people, though, who are already working…Look, my kids are working and don’t need a check. They’re not rich, but they don’t need a check. And most working Americans don’t need a check right now.”
In a statement on Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) thanked Trump for signing the bill, saying, “I thank the President for signing this relief into law, along with full-year government funding legislation that will continue the rebuilding and modernization of our Armed Forces that his Administration has championed.”
Notably missing from his statement was any comment on the president’s push to boost the stimulus checks.