Schumer on Trump’s call for $2K in direct payments: ‘I’m in’

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is signaling support for President Trump’s request that Congress revamp its $2.3 trillion coronavirus stimulus and government funding bill to include direct payments of $2,000 to Americans.

“I’m in,” he tweeted early Wednesday in response to a post from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

“Whaddya say, Mitch?” Schumer asked, referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “Let’s not get bogged down with ideological offsets and unrelated items and just DO THIS! The American people deserve it.”

On Tuesday night, Trump called the bill, which passed both chambers of Congress this week and includes $600 in direct payments, “a disgrace,” saying that amount was “not enough money” and complaining too little “is given to small businesses, and in particular restaurants, whose owners have suffered so grievously.”

Senate Republicans have criticized the bill as too costly already, while progressive Democrats have said it does not go far enough in helping Americans struggling as a result of the pandemic.  

“Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to Trump’s remarks. “We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down.”

On Tuesday, Schumer urged Trump to sign the bill as it is currently written, saying Congress could pass another aid package next year.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she was willing to bring the new bill with payments of $2,000 to the floor for consideration via unanimous consent during the body’s pro forma session on Christmas Eve. 

McConnell has not issued any public statements since Trump’s remarks Tuesday night.