WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. House passed a measure to increase COVID relief stimulus checks for most Americans from $600 to $2000.
The vote came down 275-134 Monday night.
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Despite President Donald Trump’s push in support of it, the standalone bill didn’t garner much Republican support on its way to passing the House.
All but two Democrats voted in support, 44 Republicans carried it over the two-thirds margin needed to pass.
One of those 44 was Michigan Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph.
“Americans need help, as much as they can get,” Upton said.
Upton was joined by his colleague in the north, Upper Peninsula Congressman Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, who also voted in favor of increased stimulus checks.
Bergman says he voted yes because it was specifically requested by President Trump and the, “additional support will help our communities through the winter months.”
One of the biggest failures of last week’s COVID relief bill was providing only $600 per person. President Trump was right to demand Congressional leadership step up and provide much needed relief to the people. /5
— Rep. Jack Bergman (@RepJackBergman) December 28, 2020
West Michigan’s other representatives, Justin Amash, L-Grand Rapids and Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland were among the 134 others who voted against it.
“It's $464 billion in additional spending. I think that money should have come out of the Omnibus Bill which was attached to the COVID response bill,” Huizenga said while sharing his reasoning for voting ‘no’ on Facebook shortly after the vote.
Huizenga accused the Democrats of playing political games and said the country cannot continue to rack up debt.
“At the end of the day, the best thing we can do is safely and as low risk of a manner we possibly can, open up this economy so people can go get a paycheck, that then helps local, state and the federal government on income tax collection,” Huizenga added.
All 7 of Michigan's Congressional Democrats voted in favor of the bill.
The bill is now on the way to the Senate, where it will largely be up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky to determine what happens next.
Will he listen to President Trump’s wishes and support it? Or will he not even hold a vote on it? That’s still unclear.
Two prominent Republican senators in Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina and Marco Rubio R-Florida have recently said they support bigger stimulus checks.
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