House Republicans blocked Democrats’ attempt to meet President Donald Trump’s demand to pay most Americans $2,000 to help weather the coronavirus pandemic.
Republicans objected to the bill House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer sought to pass by unanimous consent Thursday to replace the $600 payments in the latest pandemic relief legislation with the $2,000 payments.
Luke Frye, CPA, is the Accountant in Residence at Canopy, where he brings a background in accounting tech startups and private practice to help firms build smarter, more scalable businesses. After growing his own bootstrapped firm to $500K ARR and helping platforms like Bench and Pilot reach thousands of clients; Luke now focuses on one mission: helping firms add $10 million in collective revenue this year. He bridges modern software and firm operations so practitioners can reclaim their time and build firms that are not just profitable, but truly valuable.
Gaurav Shahi is a seasoned technology leader with deep expertise in AI, data, and digital transformation. As Managing Director – AI, Data & Alliances at Brillio, he leads the strategic adoption of Generative AI and advanced data solutions across industries, helping clients unlock tangible business value through innovative platforms.
Cole Hallman is the founder of Citizens Life Group and an advisor at Asset Life Settlements, a licensed life settlement brokerage bound by fiduciary obligation to act in the seller's best interest. He is a licensed viatical settlement broker.
“House and Senate Democrats have repeatedly fought for bigger checks for the American people, which House and Senate Republicans have repeatedly rejected — first, during our negotiations when they said that they would not go above $600 and now, with this act of callousness on the Floor,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Thursday.
Democrats will try again with a roll call vote on a new bill Dec. 28, when the House also plans a vote to override Trump’s veto on the National Defense Authorization Act. Since current government spending runs out that day — and funds for the rest of the fiscal year are included in the virus relief bill Trump criticized and hasn’t signed -- the House could also pass another stopgap measure to avert a partial government shutdown.
Republicans on Thursday tried to seek unanimous consent on a measure to examine taxpayer money spent on foreign aid, but Democrats blocked that move. In his complaint Tuesday about Congress’s combined virus aid and government spending bill, Trump criticized federal resources spent on international programs, even though that spending was allocated as part of the bipartisan appropriations process.