The Hill Reports the Senate has passed its approximately $2.2 trillion stimulus package designed to “jump-start an economy decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) clarified that the bill “is not even a stimulus package. It is emergency relief. Emergency relief. That’s what this is.”
McConnell told his colleagues, “This is a proud moment for the United States Senate and for the country.” He noted their body had gone from a “deeply partisan impeachment trial” to a bipartisan 96-0 vote in two months.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the agreement was a compromise for both parties. He added, “We all know that not everyone is going to want every provision. We all know that so many things so many of us want are left out. But we all know we must do these things.”
Under Senate rules, just one Senator could have slowed the bill down, delaying passage for days or weeks. Several issues like a Republican-backed change to the unemployment provision and new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding backed by Democrats threatened to delay a vote once again, but negotiators worked through the night on Tuesday to reach an agreement that would pass.
Watch the video as Ben Shapiro explains why he believes the stimulus bill was held up for “basically no reason.”
