During an afternoon event on the eve of the U.S. Senate runoff election in Georgia President-elect Joe Biden Spoke in support of Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock. Early in his speech he talks about how the people of Georgia can “chart the course, not just for the next four years, but for the next generation.” This is very true. The people of Georgia hold a unique power right now; they have the ability to change who holds the power in Washington.
During this campaign-like speech the President-elect brought up the $2,000 stimulus checks. He promised, “If you send Jon and the Reverend to Washington those $2,000 checks will go out the door restoring hope and decency and honor for so many people who are struggling right now. And if you send Senators Perdue and Loeffler back to Washington, those checks will never get there. It’s just that simple. The power is literally in your hands.”
What would happen if democratic nominees Jon Ossaff and Rev. Raphael Warnock were actually elected? There are 100 seats in the Senate; Republicans hold a Majority currently. Even if only one of the races ends favorably for Republicans they would be able to keep that majority. Keeping the Majority means they will be able to keep a check on policies backed by the Democratic party. If the Republicans lose the Senate, with the seats in the House already being Majority Democrat, we will see a leftward powershift in Washington.
This would help the Democratic party tremendously. Biden makes that point by saying, “With their votes in the Senate, we’ll be able to make the progress we need to make on jobs, on health care, on justice on the environment, on so many important things,” referring to the Democratic candidates. Biden also said electing the candidates would end “the gridlock that has gripped Washington and this nation.”
Both Republican candidates David Perdue and Kelly Leoffler publicly backed the $2,000 checks along with President Trump and the Democratic party last month. The stand still came when Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell, current Senate Majority Leader, blocked the checks. The current agreed upon amount, which has begun hitting bank accounts across the nation, is $600. McConnell blocked the $2,000 checks suggesting instead that the Senate should begin to examine the integrity of elections and limits on big technology companies.
Donald Trump not only threatened to veto the legislation all together but took to Twitter saying “$2000 for our great people, not $600!” Later that same day Perdue tweeted “President @realdonaldtrump is right — I support this push for $2,000 in direct relief for the American people.” Leoffler also sent out a tweet saying “I agree with @realDonaldTrump — we need to deliver $2,000 direct relief checks to the American people.”
The future of our nation depends on the people of Georgia. This is one of the reasons why voting is important. It is up to the voters of the peach state which direction our country will go. Their votes have the ability to shape the future of this generation.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
