The Lower House of the United States approved increasing aid to citizens to US $ 2,000
The Democratic majority of the US Lower House on Monday managed to approve an increase from US $ 600 to US $ 2,000 in direct deposits that Americans will receive, amid the coronavirus crisis that has affected finances and employment
With 275 votes in favor and 134 against, the House of Representatives approved increasing the amount of these checks and sent the initiative to the Senate, where it is not clear that the Republican majority will support that increase despite the demands of Trump, the same match.
To approve the increase, the House of Representatives needed the approval of two-thirds of its members, so the support of some of the members of the Republican caucus was essential.
In the session, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, asked Republicans to vote in favor of the initiative to help families who have been hard hit by the pandemic and have lost their jobs or are facing other financial difficulties.
“Republicans have only one option: vote for this law or deny the pain that families feel. To reject this would be to deny the economic challenges facing the American people. I ask for your strong bipartisan support, “urged Pelosi.
After five days of refusing to do so, on Sunday, Trump finally ratified a bill, known as an omnibus, worth 2.3 trillion dollars and that included a stimulus package of 900,000 million dollars to alleviate the deterioration of the economy due to the covid-19 pandemic.
That rescue plan contains direct payments of $ 600 to all Americans with an annual income less than $ 75,000; But, the ruler and the Democrats want the final figure to be $ 2,000.
Paradoxically, Trump and the Democrats agree to increase those payments, but the Republicans are divided: some support the increase as a popular idea among Americans and others cling to the tradition of the party, which had always advocated fiscal discipline. and control of public spending.
In addition, this division forces Republicans to decide whether or not to challenge the outgoing president, which could have consequences in the special election in the state of Georgia.
On January 5, Georgia holds elections to elect those who will occupy the two seats that correspond to this state in the federal Senate, something that will serve to decide which party has the majority in that chamber.
In Georgia, the two Republican candidates, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, are trying to strike a tricky balance by supporting Trump but not saying whether they are in favor of an increase in direct payments.
K. Tovar
With information from international media and Reuters agency
