WASHINGTON, D.C. (LEX 18) — Three of Kentucky's congressmen voted to increase direct payments to most Americans from $600 to $2,000 per person, two of which were Republicans.
The CASH Act, a bill that would increase stimulus checks for most Americans making less than $75,000 a year from $600 to $2,000, won the Democratic caucus by a 231-2 margin. Republicans voted 44-130, and Independents voted 0-2.
The 44 Republicans who voted to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 include Rep. James Comer (R-KY's 1st district) and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY's 5th district). Rep. John Yarmuth, a Democrat who represents Kentucky's 3rd district, also voted for the bill.
Today, the House swiftly passed legislation to increase the next round of economic impact payments to $2,000. It passed on a bipartisan basis, with 2/3 of members voting in support.
— Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) December 28, 2020
If Mitch McConnell cares about struggling families, he’ll advance this legislation without delay.
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY's 2nd district) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY's 4th district) voted against the bill. In a video posted by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee), Massie said the "debt train" was coming and said he is against spending more money after Congress passed the $900 billion stimulus package last week.
I voted no twice $400 Billion with no offsets and blocking our ability to bring our troops home. Cameo by @RepThomasMassie #SpecialCase pic.twitter.com/2zNLe3hATh
— Tim Burchett (@timburchett) December 28, 2020
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY's 6th district) did not vote.
The legislation now goes to the U.S. Senate, where its future is in question. It's unclear if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who largely controls what legislation gets to the floor, will allow the CASH Act to get a vote.
McConnell hasn’t publicly said anything. So, all eyes are on him when he speaks on the floor of the Senate later today.
— Karolina Buczek (@Karolina_Buczek) December 29, 2020
In order to pass the CASH Act, 12 Republicans would need to join 48 Democrats. And some, like Sen. Marco Rubio, have said they would vote for it. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/yJRlUjm7Wj
If the proposal to increase stimulus checks to $2,000 is signed, the stimulus bill's overall cost will go from $900 billion to $1.36 trillion, according to House data released on Monday.
