Second stimulus check: on who will McConnell focus second payment?
A second check for American households is in discussion as part of the latest coronavirus relief package, but people want to know who the beneficiaries will be.
There had been an expectation, build from the words from some of those involved with the decision making, that the release of the Republican coronavirus relief package would be ready by now. Unfortunately for many millions of Americans that it may finally provide some support to, the wait will now continue into next week.
McConnell says focus on “kids, jobs and health care”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that there is an agreement in principle, however it is still needing the approval rubber stamped from Donald Trump’s administration.
“The administration has requested additional time to review the fine details,” McConnell stated on Thursday, “but we will be laying down the proposal early next week.
“We have an agreement in principle on the shape of the package.”
One of the issues with the delay is that means it will not be ready to neatly continue the $600 unemployment benefit (if that was approved) which ends at the end of this week.
The politician from Kentucky did, however, state who the focus would be on in this new bill pointing to “kids, jobs and health care” and also that it would authorise ‘temporary’ federal support for state unemployment insurance.
In regards to a second stimulus payment, McConnell said that it would indeed be part of the new plan although didn’t go any further on the details behind that. Previously he, and others, had suggested there would be a salary upper limit of $40,000 per individual (rather than the $75,000 previously agreed in the CARES Act) although Democrats have highlighted the millions of needy people who would be missed it this was signed off.
He also intimated that money would be made available to provide another round of Paycheck Protection Program, where loans, sometimes forgivable, can be accessed by small business to help them survive this crisis. Although very beneficial in many cases, critics of the first round are hoping that this is better targeted to those who need it most.
We also know that the bill will include $105 billion to help and encourage schools to start up in the fall, but there will be no place for a Donald Trump favourite, the payroll tax holiday.
In response, Democrats have shown their disappointment in the delay.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “The Republican disarray and dithering has serious, potentially deadly consequences for tens of millions of Americans.”