U.S. House passes $2 trillion stimulus bill, Trump says he will sign fast
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Topics: U.S.L TRUMP
The House eventually voted to approve the legislation by a voice vote, overcoming an objection by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
The vote by the House comes after the package was unanimously approved the Senate late Wednesday and now sends the bill to President Donald Trump, who has indicated he will sign the legislation immediately.
Senate agreement on the bill came after days of negotiations and approval of the bill in the House was widely seen as a formality until Massie expressed his opposition.
Massie raised several concerns about the $2 trillion bill, including the price tag, and argued House members should have to go on record on the legislation.
The move to pass the bill by voice vote came as a number of members of Congress have left Washington amid concerns about the coronavirus, with two House members testing positive and several others in self-quarantine.
Enough members eventually returned to Washington to block Massie's effort to force a recorded vote and the bill was passed by voice vote.
The effort by Massie still drew harsh condemnation from fellow Republicans, including Congressman Peter King of New York, who called the move "disgraceful."
In posts on Twitter, President Donald Trump blasted Massie as a "third rate Grandstander" and called for the Congressman to be thrown out of the Republican Party. ■