WHETHER Americans get $2,000 stimulus checks may rest on the results of the Georgia Senate runoffs on Tuesday.
While $600 stimulus checks are being distributed as part of a Covid-19 relief package, many Americans say it is not enough and lawmakers so far have been unsuccessful in approving more financial assistance or a third check.
President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to push a third stimulus check that would likely gain the support of the Democrat-controlled House and possibly the Senate if Republicans lose the majority, Newsweek reported.
The Georgia Senate runoffs are significant because if two Democratic challengers are victorious, the Senate would be divided 50-50 among Democrats and Republicans.
The two Democratic candidates, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, have voiced support for $2,000 stimulus checks and hold slight leads over Republican incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, according to recent polling.
If Ossoff and Warnock win, there is a high chance of a third stimulus check or a boost to the second stimulus check, with the backing of a couple Republican senators.
Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Josh Hawley have both said they are in favor of $2,000 stimulus checks.
Democratic victories in the Georgia runoffs would signal a change in direction in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked an effort by Democrats, President Donald Trump and several GOP members to increase the $600 payments to $2,000.
Loeffler and Perdue have not spoken publicly about whether they would back an effort by Biden to provide Americans with $2,000 payments.
The two Republican incumbents said in a statement they were behind a legislative package by McConnell that would include $2,000 checks along with an election security commission and a repeal of Section 230, which protects tech companies from being responsible for content posted by users.
“We have put together a robust legislative package that will benefit every Georgian and deliver $2,000 to those in need,” Loeffler and Perdue told WTVM.
While Democrats wanted $2,000 checks, they opposed the other parts of McConnell’s package.
“We can pass $2,000 relief checks,” Ossoff tweeted on Saturday.
“But we have to win this Senate election.”
