Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., blocked an effort aimed at passing a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks on Friday.
According to The Hill, Johnson had maintained that coronavirus relief needs to be targeted.
His comments came as Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., tried to get consent to pass a bill that would have provided $1,200 for those who make up to $75,000. Consent requires the cooperation of every senator.
“What I'm proposing will give working folks in my state and across this country a shot ... at getting back up on their feet," Hawley said.
Johnson, however, objected.
"I completely support some kind of program targeted for small businesses. ... So what I fear we're going to do with this bipartisan package, and what the senator from Missouri is talking about is the same thing, is a shotgun approach," Johnson said.
"We will not have learned the lessons from our very hurried, very rushed earlier relief packages."
Axios noted Hawley has teamed up with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in an effort to include direct payments in the relief package. The bill currently being discussed by congressional leaders calls for direct payments of $600.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.