GOP senator on second coronavirus stimulus checks: 'People in hell want ice water too'

·Reporter

May 8, 2020 at 11:20 PM·4 min read

This post has been updated.

With the majority of coronavirus stimulus payments distributed, the question of a second round is mounting. But some Republicans don’t see this likely to happen.

The $2.2 trillion stimulus package signed at the end of March was the largest emergency aid package in U.S. history with $250 billion of it going directly to Americans’ wallets to help them weather the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

And while some Democrats support a second payment and have even proposed recurring monthly payments to Americans, some Republicans aren’t on the same page despite President Trump being open to the idea.

“Well people in hell want ice water, too,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) when asked about more rounds of stimulus payments, according to The Hill. “I mean, everybody has an idea and a bill, usually to spend more money. It’s like a Labor Day mattress sale around here.” (A spokesperson for Kennedy later said that the senator’s comments were in reference to potential bills that would further increase state and local government funding.)

US Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, wearing a mask to protect himself and others from COVID-19, known as coronavirus, leaves following the weekly Republican policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 5, 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said he’s not supporting additional stimulus payments, either.

“I wasn't a real big supporter of that in the first round,” he said, according to The Hill. “This isn't your classic recession.”

During the initial negotiations of the stimulus package in March, the White House proposed “two tranches.” The idea at the time was to distribute $1,000 per person immediately and then an additional $1,000 six weeks later if a national emergency was declared.

“We could very well do a second round,” President Trump said in April. “It is absolutely under serious consideration.”

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 29: U.S. President Donald Trump's name appears on the coronavirus economic assistance checks that were sent to citizens across the country April 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. The initial 88 million payments totaling nearly $158 billion were sent by the Treasury Department last week as most of the country remains under stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — U.S. President Donald Trump's name appears on the coronavirus economic assistance checks that were sent to citizens across the country April 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Republican senators, meanwhile, wanted to see if a second round would be needed.

This includes Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) who said that the original two-round approach was held off because of a need for more time to assess.

“I think we’re still in that assessment,” he said, according to The Hill.

On the other hand, some Republicans have signaled openness to the idea of more checks, including the president.

How about $2,000 a month?

As part of the CARES Act, eligible Americans received up to $1,200 in economic impact payments along with $500 per child under 17. Now, Democrats have floated a minimum guaranteed income, which is supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who also said the next bill should include “giving families additional direct payments.”

In a recent letter signed by 62 members of Congress, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), they argued that “recurring monthly payments is the most efficient mechanism for delivering economic relief to those most at-risk in this crisis.”

Sanders has also called for monthly direct payments of $2,000 to every person in the United States.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

In response to Pelosi’s and remarks by other Democrats, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) said: “It’s incredibly tone-deaf of Speaker Pelosi to continue using this crisis to push these radical socialist ideas that have been consistently rejected.”

Others, like Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN.), also said they’re not ready to support such legislation:

“I’m probably not going to be interested in doing anything for a while,” Braun said, according to The Hill. “Whether it’s the payroll tax cut, a round of stimulus checks, I’m thinking $3 trillion has been a pretty good wallop.”

Ben Werschkul contributed reporting.

Denitsa is a writer for Yahoo Finance and Cashay, a new personal finance website. Follow her on Twitter @denitsa_tsekova.

Read more:

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Reddit.

AFP
Stiff business: Berlin startup will freeze your corpse for monthly fee
Becca Ziegler is only 24, but she already has her death planned out: her corpse will be deep-frozen to minus 200 degrees Celsius (minus 328 degrees Fahrenheit) with liquid nitrogen. The body is then infused with a "cryoprotectant" and transported to the facility in Switzerland where it is stored in a pod surrounded by liquid nitrogen and cooled to around minus 200 degrees Celsius.
AFP
Wars, looming Trump reign set to dominate G20 summit
G20 leaders gather in Brazil on Monday for a G20 summit set to be dominated by differences over wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and implications of Donald Trump's White House return.China is Brazil's biggest trading partner, and the two countries have been touting themselves as mediators to help end Russia's war in Ukraine, so far without success.
Reuters
South Korea opposition leader convicted of violating election law, Yonhap reports
A South Korean court convicted on Friday main opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung on charges of violating the election law, handing him a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, the Yonhap news agency reported. When Lee arrived at the Seoul Central District Court, his supporters chanted his name as he entered, while a group of protesters also gathered near the court. Lee, head of the main opposition Democratic Party who narrowly lost to President Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 election, faces at least four trials after being indicted on several criminal charges including bribery and corruption.
AFP
Xi, Biden attend Asia-Pacific summit, prepare to meet
US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will attend the first day of an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit Friday ahead of a face-to-face meeting under a cloud of diplomatic uncertainty cast by Donald Trump's election victory.Xi and Biden arrived in Lima Thursday along with other world leaders for a two-day heads-of-state meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping.
Associated Press
Activists at COP29 spend weeks planning demos. But they can feel stifled by rules and restrictions
In the nosebleed seats of a nearly-empty Baku Olympic stadium coated with a layer of dust, activists used a giant banner to beam the words “Pay Up” to the world. The protest took weeks of thought and planning, but most of the attendees at this year's UN climate talks didn't see or hear it — except for maybe some in the COP29 presidency offices right below. It’s “really hard to make our demands heard,” said Bianca Castro, a climate activist from Portugal.
Associated Press
Trump's pick of Rubio as America's top diplomat jolts Latin America, long accustomed to US neglect
Growing up in Miami among Cuban exiles who fled Fidel Castro's revolution, Sen. Marco Rubio developed a deep hatred of communism. Now as President-elect Donald Trump's choice for America's top diplomat, he's set to bring that same ideological ammunition to reshaping U.S. policy in Latin America. As the first Latino secretary of state, Rubio is expected to devote considerable attention to what has long been disparagingly referred to as Washington’s backyard.
NBC News
Texas influencer who lost monkey after drunk driving crash desperate to get the sick animal back
A spider monkey belonging to a Dallas-area influencer had a disease caused by malnutrition when police took him from his owner over the weekend, officials said.
CNN
Tropical Storm Sara closes in on ‘life-threatening’ and ‘potentially catastrophic’ impact with Central America
More than two feet of rain could fall and trigger devastating flash flooding and mudslides.
AFP
Landslide win for Sri Lanka president's leftist coalition in snap polls
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's leftist coalition won a landslide victory in snap legislative elections, results showed Friday, as voters repudiated establishment parties blamed for triggering an economic crisis.He stormed to the presidency after successfully distancing himself from establishment politicians blamed for steering the country to its 2022 economic crisis.
Associated Press
Trump wants to end 'wokeness' in education. He has vowed to use federal money as leverage
Donald Trump's vision for education revolves around a single goal: to rid America’s schools of perceived “ wokeness ” and “left-wing indoctrination.” Now that he’s won the White House, he plans to use federal money as leverage to advance his vision of education across the nation. On his first day in office, Trump has repeatedly said he will cut money to “any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content on our children.”
Associated Press
As airlines avoid Israel, UAE's FlyDubai and Etihad keep up flights for both diplomacy and dollars
At Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, more than a year of war has taken its toll. Global airlines have canceled flights, gates are empty and pictures of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip guide the few arriving passengers to baggage claim. The Emirati flights, in addition to bolstering the airlines' bottom line, have shined a light on the countries’ burgeoning ties — which have survived the wars raging across the Middle East and could be further strengthened as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office.
Associated Press
Stock market today: Asian stocks climb after Wall Street's post-election boom slows
Asian stocks were mostly higher on Friday after U.S. stocks slipped as the market’s big rally following Trump's election victory cooled further. U.S. futures and oil prices were lower. Nissan Motor Co.'s shares jumped 4.7% during morning trading.
Associated Press
As Trump picks Florida men for top jobs, new political possibilities open up in the Sunshine State
As President-elect Donald Trump names picks for his new administration from his private club in Palm Beach and prepares to return to the White House, he’s bringing the Sunshine State with him. With Sen. Marco Rubio tapped to be the next secretary of state, Rep. Matt Gaetz nominated to be attorney general, and Rep. Mike Waltz in line to be national security adviser, Trump’s reliance on Floridians is setting off a chain reaction that's opening up new possibilities in the state in 2026 and beyond — and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s onetime challenger for the party’s presidential nomination, will have a key role to play.
NBC News
Trump picks former Rep. Doug Collins for veterans affairs secretary
President-elect Donald Trump said that he will nominate Doug Collins, a former Georgia lawmaker, to lead the Department of Veteran Affairs in his administration.
USA TODAY
Leonid meteor shower hits peak activity this weekend: When and how to watch
Leonid meteors are a few years away from producing a storm that dazzles viewers once every 33 years, but they could still put on a show this weekend.
Associated Press
Trial to begin for the man accused of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley
Opening statements are expected Friday in the trial of the man accused of killing a Georgia nursing student, in a case that helped fan the immigration debate during the last election cycle. Jose Ibarra is charged with murder and other crimes in the February killing of Laken Hope Riley, whose body was found on the University of Georgia Campus. Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial, meaning his case will be heard and decided by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard.
Associated Press
Trump is already testing Congress and daring Republicans to oppose him
After a resounding election victory, delivering what President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans call a “mandate” to govern, an uneasy political question is emerging: Will there be any room for dissent in the U.S. Congress? Trump is laying down a gauntlet even before taking office challenging the Senate, in particular, to dare defy him over the nominations of Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other controversial choices for his Cabinet and administration positions. The promise of unified government, with the Republican Party’s sweep of the White House and GOP majorities in the House and Senate, is making way for a more complicated political reality as congressional leaders confront anew what it means to line up with Trump’s agenda.
Reuters
Exclusive-Taiwan president plans Hawaii visit on sensitive trip to Pacific, sources say
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is planning to stop in Hawaii and maybe Guam on a visit to Taipei's diplomatic allies in the Pacific in the coming weeks, sources told Reuters, a sensitive trip coming shortly after the U.S. election. Lai, who won election in January, has yet to travel overseas since taking office in May. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, detests Lai as a "separatist" and routinely objects to any interaction between Taiwan's government and foreign officials.
CNN
Trump’s latest controversial Cabinet pick could have a huge impact on Americans’ health and lives
Each of Donald Trump’s most provocative Cabinet picks has been a calculated punch in the mouth to experts, elites and bureaucrats in Washington’s government agencies.
Associated Press
Clean energy could create millions of tons of waste in India. Some are working to avoid that
On the edges of a dense forest in southern India, six women in a small garage are busy stitching cloth bags, pants, hospital gowns and office uniforms with automated sewing machines. The battery pack, made from used electric vehicle batteries, keeps their sewing machines and lights on even when the main power is off. While the group is successful, initiatives like it in India are still few and far between.

How about $2,000 a month?

Latest Stories