Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked the possibility to fast-track passage of a bill that would send $2,000 to most Americans amid a growing health crisis and increasing political pressure. He argued that the bill that focuses on increasing stimulus checks to $2,000 lacks a "realistic path" to pass the Senate.

Taking to the Senate floor, McConnell slammed the house-passed bill. He specifically criticized how the income phaseouts are structured in the bill, claiming even higher-income individuals and couples would be eligible to receive some of the payments.

Noting that the House bill has no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate, the Kentucky Republican said the Democratic-led effort did not coincide with what President Donald Trump actually requested. The president has repeatedly pressured Republicans to pass the elaborated stimulus checks.

McConnell said that the Senate would not allow more borrowed money to the Democrats, despite being bullied. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized McConnell's stand and insisted that Republicans bring the bill up for a vote, CNN reported.

Schumer, who supports an immediate vote on the measure, said the Senate should get a chance for an up-or-down vote. On the other hand, McConnell is bent on making sure that nothing moves forward in the chamber that doesn't comprise Trump's other two priorities that includes a full revoke of online liability protections, Section 230, as well as an investigation into alleged voter fraud.

Supported by Democratic Senator Ed Markey, Senator Bernie Sanders attempted to block the passage of a congressional override of Trump's veto of a $740 billion military spending bill, forcing a vote on direct payments. The Senate began the first of numerous motions to initiate the override process, with a final vote likely slated this weekend, Independent reported.

The independent senator from Vermont slammed GOP objections, noting Republicans' support for Trump's massive tax cuts that have rapidly increased the deficiency, they now claim is too weak in terms of taking on the larger payments to Americans struggling due to the pandemic. Senator Sanders reminded McConnell that ten out of the country's poorest 25 counties are located in Kentucky, suggesting that maybe McConnell, who represents Kentucky, might want to start talking to Kentucky's working families.

Markey noted that the American public is tired of being told the $600 is enough as an amount of money as relief, while billionaires get their tax breaks and continue growing their wealth. On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Senate Republicans for blocking a vote on a measure she steered through the House earlier this week.