Sanders, Harris, Markey want to give Americans $2,000 a month during coronavirus pandemic, but likely face GOP pushback

WASHINGTON — The single $1,200 check to Americans in a federal stimulus package was not enough to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic, a group of senators say, and they want to send more. 

Sens. Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey and Kamala Harris unveiled legislation Friday that would provide $2,000 payments until three months after the Department of Health and Human Services declared the public health emergency to be over, a proposal likely to face strong resistance from the White House and congressional Republicans.

The senators said the legislation would provide much-needed economic support as businesses suffer the economic impacts of social distancing measures designed to stop the virus’ spread. The U.S. unemployment rate has soared to 14.7% with 20.5 million jobs lost in April.

 “The one-time $1,200 check that many Americans recently received is not nearly enough to pay the rent, put food on the table and make ends meet,” said Sanders, I-Vt. 

But GOP leaders in Washington appear to be in no rush to get a new stimulus deal done. The White House has turned its focus to reopening the economy while Republicans in Congress want to spend already approved stimulus money before deciding on more. However, the GOP has pushed for provisions like liability protections and a payroll tax cut to be included in the next coronavirus relief bill.  

“I think there’s a pause in the formal negotiations. We’re going to take a look at things at the end of May and early June and see where we are in the economy,” White House Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said Friday on Fox Business. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday that senators would “take a pause” to evaluate the effects of previous legislation before moving forward on relief bills. 

April jobs report: Economy loses 20.5M jobs and unemployment soars to 14.7% in April as coronavirus pandemic spreads

More: Among those who won’t get a coronavirus check: Older Americans claimed as dependents

Markey, D-Mass., noted the monthly payments would be the “most direct and efficient mechanism” to provide relief, especially to “low-income families, immigrant communities, and our gig and service workers.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday in a Bloomberg News interview “putting money in people’s pockets” was a top priority for House Democrats in the next stimulus, and provisions like an extension of unemployment insurance and direct payments were under consideration. Democrats have also pressed for hundreds of billions in dollars of aid for state and local governments whose budgets have been cratered by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The bill would provide $2,000 a month to every individual with an income below $120,000, higher than the $75,000 threshold in the previous stimulus. Married couples would receive $4,000. Families would receive $2,000 per child for up to three children, and payments would be assessed retroactively to March 2020. 

The legislation would give payments to all U.S. residents, even if they did not have a Social Security number or had filed recent tax returns. It would also forbid debt collectors from taking the payments, and provide payments to homeless and foster youth. 

While the bill’s future is unclear, unorthodox proposals have gained traction during the coronavirus pandemic. The previous round of $1,200 payments, for example, started as a proposal from Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. 

The stimulus check program has also drawn scrutiny as Americans have reported missing and delayed checks, or others have reported checks issued to dead people. The Treasury Department has asked for stimulus checks issued to deceased relatives to be given back.

More: Coronavirus stimulus checks sent to dead people should be mailed back to IRS, Treasury says

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