WASHINGTON — Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, voted Monday to increase COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000, but against overriding President Donald Trump’s veto of a defense policy bill that would give pay raises for U.S. troops and authorize hundreds of billions of dollars in military programs and construction.
In a 275-134 vote Monday, dozens of Republicans joined Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to boost stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000 just days after Trump had called the $600 checks “ridiculously low” and criticized Congress for finding “plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists and special interests” but just “the bare minimum to the American people.”
Pence was one of 44 House Republicans who voted in favor of the measure, including four in Indiana, according to congressional records. Republican Reps. James Baird, Susan Brooks and Jackie Walorski also voted in favor of the bill.
While Democrats had favored bigger checks in previous talks, Congress had settled on smaller $600 payments in a compromise over the big year-end relief bill Trump reluctantly signed into law on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.
Last week, Pence praised the $900 billion relief bill that included the $600 checks before Trump called the bill a “disgrace.”
“Bolstered (Paycheck Protection Program) for business owners & support for working families & students is good news for Americans coping with the pandemic,” Pence said in a tweet on Dec. 22. “The relief package passed by Congress is a big step to fully reopen our country and I look forward to President @realDonaldTrump signing it into law.”
Also on Monday, the House voted overwhelmingly to override Trump’s veto a defense policy bill, setting the stage for what could be the first veto override of his presidency, according to wire reports.
House members, including a majority of Republicans, voted 322-87 to override the veto, well above the two-thirds threshold needed to override. The Senate, which is expected to vote on the override this week, also needs to approve it by a two-thirds majority.
Pence was the only House Republican representing Indiana who voted against the veto override. Republican Rep. Trey Hollingsworth did not cast votes Monday on the defense bill or the stimulus checks.
Pence had previously voted against the defense bill on July 21 and against a conference report on the legislation on Dec. 8, according to congressional records.
Trump rejected the defense bill last week, saying it failed to limit social media companies he claims were biased against him during his failed re-election campaign, according to wire reports. Trump also opposes language that allows for the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders.
The defense bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes more than $740 billion in military programs and construction.
Pence is one of three members of the House who have voted in line with Trump’s position 100% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight, a news website that uses statistical and data analysis.
