Senate debates $2,000 stimulus checks and possible veto override of defense bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday blocked an attempt by Democrats to set up a stand-alone vote on increasing the amount of recently passed stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000. Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) both tried to get consent for the Senate to bring up legislation that passed the House in a 273-134 vote on Monday. The GOP leader did not directly address why he objected. But he signaled separately that he could package the increase in direct stimulus checks, with a repeal of a tech shield that has emerged as a top target for Trump and election-related investigations. "During this process, the president highlighted three additional issues of national significance he would like to see Congress tackle together," McConnell said. "Those are the three important subjects the president has linked together. This week the Senate will begin a process to bring these three priorities into focus," McConnell added. McConnell did not provide additional details about how he might bring the measures up. But tying the stimulus checks push to Section 230, a legal shield for tech companies, or to Trump's unproven claims that widespread election fraud cost him his reelection would almost certainly undermine Democratic support for such legislation. Schumer in his remarks Tuesday pressed for a vote on the $2,000 checks. You can read more here: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5...