Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) objected, a second time to a bill that would provide struggling Americans making less that $75,000 a year a direct stimulus payment of $1,200.
Johnson had already objected to the bill when it was first proposed by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo). He blocked it a second time on Friday when it was offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt).
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“This is not a radical idea. This is an idea that is supported by President Donald Trump. It is an idea that is supported by President-elect Joe Biden,” Sanders said. “The American people cannot wait any longer; they need economic relief right now. They need help and they need it now.”
But, his calls to help the American people with $1,200 checks instead of the $600 currently being proposed did not have an effect on Johnson who argued that the deficit was why he ran in the first place.
“When I first got here, I ran because we were mortgaging our kids’ future,” he said. “I’m not heartless. I want to help people. I voted to help people. I voted for the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, but I also am concerned about our children’s future,” Johnson said after he blocked the bill for a second time, according to The Hill.
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Johnson who is up for reelection in 2022 said his decision to block the checks was due to his concern about the ballooning national debt, not about his reelection in two years.
