(CNN) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked an effort to quickly pass a measure to increase direct stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000, though the legislation could be voted on at a later time or date if McConnell so chooses. The House passed the increase to stimulus payments on Monday with wide bipartisan support. McConnell introduced legislation Tuesday to combine two additional demands from Trump to the expansion of direct stimulus payments, raising Democratic concern the pathway for expanded stimulus payments would soon be short-circuited. Many Republican senators objected to an increase in stimulus payments during negotiations for a Covid-19 relief package throughout the year, citing the growing price tag of the plan. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted Tuesday evening that direct payments to Americans may begin to be deposited as early as later in the night.

Source: CNN December 29, 2020 18:13 UTC