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Joe Biden, Senate Dems Slammed for Mulling Sending ‘Fewer & Less Generous’ Relief Checks Than Trump

© REUTERS / Ken CedenoA view of the US Capitol Building as the Democrats and Republicans continue to move forward on the agreement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) aid package in Washington, DC, 21 December 2020
A view of the US Capitol Building as the Democrats and Republicans continue to move forward on the agreement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) aid package in Washington, DC, 21 December 2020 - Sputnik International, 1920, 06.03.2021
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President Joe Biden had reportedly signalled his intent to opt for a new plan involving income caps during Senate negotiations on 3 March over eligibility for paychecks under the $1.9 trillion relief package being debated, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

The US Senate took its first major procedural step on 4 March toward passing the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, with the chamber voting to start debate on the rescue package. However, many Americans have been voicing frustration over reported plans to tweak the income limits for the $1,400 stimulus payments, reported CNBC.

In what is perceived by some as Joe Biden’s reneging on his earlier promise to send $2,000 checks to financially struggling Americans amid the pandemic, the President is believed to have backed a plan to slash the income caps for receiving the stimulus payouts included in the bill, approved by the House on 27 February.

As lawmakers now begin offering amendments to the bill, which Democrats would like to reach President Joe Biden’s desk before unemployment aid programmes expire on 14 March, the Senate may change the income limits for the stimulus checks.

Mulled Slashes

The bill passed by the House includes direct payments of $1,400 to individual Americans earning less than $75,000 and $2,800 to couples earning less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income (AGI).

A phase out of the payments would begin after the cited thresholds, completely ending for individuals making $100,000 or more, and couples earning $200,000 or more.

However, in line with the proposed slashed version, according to the outlet, the scope of the third round of stimulus would be narrowed by phasing out payments completely for individuals earning more than $80,000 and couples earning more than $160,000.

While an estimated 280 million Americans would still be eligible for stimulus payments, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) calculates that 11.8 million fewer adults and 4.6 million fewer children would receive a third stimulus payment.

Democrats have also agreed to reduce the federal supplemental unemployment benefits in the next stimulus bill from $400 to $300 per week.

​In a comment on the reported amendments to the rescue package and President Biden’s stance on the issue, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said “he is comfortable with where the negotiations stand".

‘Little-to-no Political, Economic Sense’

Some progressives in the House denounced the reportedly proposed ‘tweaks’ to the bill.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., tweeted that the Democrats were gearing up to send “fewer & less generous relief checks” than under Donald Trump.

​The move was slammed as making “little-to-no political or economic sense”.

​Senate Republicans have slammed US President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill. Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the bill is “a wildly expensive proposal largely unrelated to the problem.”

​Mitch McConnell also said Biden’s bill was a Democratic “wish list” that failed to meet the moment.

Ahead of the debate on the rescue plan and amendments to it, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said:

“The Senate’s going to take a lot of votes…But we’re going to power through and finish this bill, however long it takes.” 

Democrats could pass the bill on their own in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking a tie amid a 50-50 vote split between Democrats and Republicans.

Back in January, then-President-elect Joe Biden had unveiled a $1.9 trillion stimulus package proposal aiming to kick-start the economy and accelerate vaccine rollout to reign in the spread of the coronavirus in the country. The Democrat had campaigned throughout 2020 on a pledge to take the pandemic with more gravity than Donald Trump had ostensibly done.

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