THERE is new hope for $2,000 stimulus checks as Democrats are set to control the Senate and make bigger payments a top priority.
Americans will likely have a better chance at a third relief check after Democrats won both runoffs in Georgia.
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A number of media outlets called the race in Raphael Warnock's favor, however, Republicans have so far refused to concede.
The most recent results show Warnock has gained 50.7 percent of the vote, compared to the incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler who took 49.3 percent of the vote.
In the other battle, Democrat Jon Ossoff, 33, took 50.3 percent of the vote while Republican David Perdue managed 49.7 percent.
In both cases, 98 percent of the vote had been counted but both lead by margins that are larger than the threshold required to trigger a recount under Georgia law.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will break the 50-50 ties.
With the two wins for the Democrats this now reshapes the political landscape in Washington DC – and gives hope to another round of stimulus checks.
Speaking at a Monday campaign rally for the Georgia races, President-elect Joe Biden said: "If you send Jon [Ossoff] and the reverend [Raphael Warnock] to Washington, those $2,000 checks will go out the door, restoring hope and decency for so many people who are struggling right now.
“If you send senators [David] Perdue and [Kelly] Loeffler back to Washington, those checks will never get there."
In the case that Loeffler and Perdue won re-election, Republicans would have maintained their majority of 52-48 seats.
On Wednesday morning, Chuck Schumer vowed that $2,000 stimulus checks for Americans will be "one of the first things" a Democrat-led Senate will do.
The Senate minority leader made the comments as Americans eagerly await the results of the Georgia Senate runoff on Wednesday morning.
"It’s one of the first things we want to do when our new senators are seated," Schumer said on Wednesday.
Earlier on in the day he hinted that more checks would roll in if the Democrats took the Senate.
"For too long, much-needed help has been stalled or diluted by a Republican-led Senate and President Trump," Schumer said.
"That will change with a Democratic Senate, Democratic House, and a Democratic President."
While $600 stimulus checks are already being distributed as part of a new Covid-19 relief package, many Americans say the amount is not enough.
However, lawmakers so far have been unsuccessful in approving more financial assistance or a third check, despite a House-passed bill that Trump supports.
The Senate failed to approve $2,000 checks last week after the House passed a bill authorizing the payments.
Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service revealed on Tuesday night that some taxpayers may have to wait months for their $600 stimulus checks – which have already been distributed as part of a new Covid-19 relief package.
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