Democrats led passage, 275-134, their majority favoring additional assistance, but dozens of Republicans suddenly joined in approval. While Democrats favored bigger checks, Congress had settled on smaller US$600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law. The president’s Republican allies opposed more spending and Trump’s push puts them in a difficult spot. The vote was a stunning turn of events from just days ago, when House Republicans blocked Trump’s demands during a Christmas Eve session. After the robust House vote, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned, “There is no good reason for Senate Republicans to stand in the way.”-AP

Source: The Standard December 29, 2020 02:48 UTC