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Two House Democrats vote NO against $2,000 stimulus checks as CASH Act heads to GOP-controlled Senate

How the Senate votes could affect the upcoming two crucial Georgia runoffs that will decide control of the US Senate. If the bill is not passed, the push to 'flip the Senate' will gain momentum

In a close contest of 275 to 143 votes, the House passed legislation to increase direct payments in Covid-19 relief law to individuals from $600 to $2,000. A two-thirds majority vote was needed to pass the bill that now heads to the GOP-controlled Senate.

There is immense scrutiny around the vote that will decide whether individuals will receive $600 or $2000 via their stimulus checks. How the Senate votes could affect the upcoming two crucial Georgia runoffs that will decide control of the US Senate. If the bill is not passed, the push to "flip the Senate" will gain momentum. 

Forty-four (44) Republicans voted "Yes" with nearly all Democrats to pass the CASH Act, which is now headed to the Senate.  House Independents from Michigan, Republican-turned Independent Paul Mitchell and Libertarian Amash, both voted "No" against increasing direct payments to $2,000. Most House Republicans also voted "No".

But the most surprising thing about the tally was that two House Democrats voted "No" to increase direct payments to $2,000. They were departing eighth term Representative Dan Lipinski of Illinois and Oregon Representative Kurt Schrader, who was elected to his seventh House term last month. "2 Dems voted against the $2000 stimulus checks: -@RepLipinski was already voted out, so good riddance. -@RepSchrader is from Oregon’s 5th and there’s no reason not to launch a strong primary against him in 2022. Not a single Democrat should vote against money for the people," said one tweet, while another said it was time to make these 2 Democrats "famous" as the "great 2020 unmasking continues". 

One user raging about the Democrats wrote: "Those f##@$%ing "Democrats" Lipinski and Schrader. What kind of joke do they think this is, and who the hell are they again? This is not the time for grandstanding. Idiots. I would enjoy seeing them manage on 600.00 for any length of time," while another replied to him saying: "ESPECIALLY when our state of Oregon went through horrific, life-changing wildfires ON TOP of the pandemic. #shameful". Another tweet pointed out how both these Democrats wanted "people to continue struggling, losing their homes and starving". 

Others were looking forward to getting rid of Schrader since Lipinski was already on his way out. "Glad Marie Newman rid us of Dan Lipinski but heads up #OR05 Kurt Schrader needs to be retired," said one tweet, showing that there will be payback for the "No" votes. Another tweet remarked: "Crazy how people are praising 44 republicans for doing the bare minimum and not focusing on the 2 democrats who said 'nah'."

Republicans had left it largely to members to decide the bill's fate after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last week blocked a unanimous consent request by Democrats to increase stimulus checks to $2,000. The bill's ultimate fate remains unclear since Senate Republicans are likely to oppose the measure despite Trump's demands.