$1,400 third stimulus check: when to expect, Biden relief plan and IRS payment | 31 January
Stimulus checks and latest US news: live
Headlines
- Biden will meet with Republican lawmakers to discuss the stimulus bill proposals early this week
- GOP Senators propose new $600bn covid relief bill with $1,000 stimulus checks
- More than 50 House Democrats urge President Joe Biden to prioritize recurring $2,000 stimulus checks
- Stimulus check of up to $1,400 in President Biden's $1.9tn American Rescue Plan (will it get GOP support?)
- Biden "open" to negotiation over eligibility requirements for third check
- Adult dependents could be entitled to $2,000 stimulus checks to make up for previous exclusion
- Progressive lawmakers call for recurring stimulus checks to be included in new legislation (full story)
- Proposal for increased child tax credit of up to $3,600 per dependent in stimulus plan (full details)
- Democrats confirm they are willing to use 'reconciliation' to ensure stimulus bill passes Congress
- Group of prominent women calls for $2,400 stimulus checks for mothers
- US covid cases/deaths: >26.1 million / 441,300 (live updates)
Third stimulus relief bill: what’s in the Republicans’ $600bn proposal?
Republicans propose new $600 billion stimulus bill, but what's included?
A group of ten Republican senators have sent a letter to the White House informing them of a $600 billion covid-19 economic relief package currently being drafted by GOP lawmakers. The package is a counter-proposal to the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan which President Biden first announced in January.
The package is less than a third of the cost of Biden's proposal and as such there are some significant omissions. In the last hour the White House has confirmed that Biden will meet with the Republican senators who sent the letter to discussion their proposal, but as it stands the two sides are far apart on their plans.
Biden will meet with Republican senators for stimulus bill talks
Biden will meet with Republican senators for stimulus bill talks
A group of ten GOP lawmakers sent a letter asking for a White House meeting to discuss the American Rescue Plan and Biden has agreed to hear their concerns. In a statement released on Sunday evening, it was confirmed that a meeting will take place in the coming days.
The Democrats had been expected to table Biden’s American Rescue Plan this week but the package has been the subject of criticism from those on the other side of the aisle. A number of GOP lawmakers had argued that the $1.9 trillion bill was too expensive, and have proposed a counter-offer.
BREAKING: Biden agrees to meet GOP Senators for stimulus bill talks
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has released a statement confirming that President Biden will meet with Republican Senators to discuss a bipartisan solution for covid-19 stimulus talks. The Democrats are poised to table Biden's American Rescue Plan in Congress this week but on Sunday GOP lawmakers sent a letter calling for a White House meeting on the subject.
The press release from Biden's team reads: "As has been widely reported, the President received a letter today from 10 Republican Senators asking to meet with him to discuss their ideas about the actions needed to address these crises."
"In response, the President spoke to Senator Collins, and invited her and other signers of the letter to come to the White House early this week for a full exchange of views."
What's the current child tax credit entitlement? Who is eligible?
What's the current child tax credit entitlement?
Despite having signed a series of executive orders boosting the minimum wage for federal workers to $15-per-hour and extending the eviction moratorium, Biden's top priority is to pass the new covid-19 economic relief bill. the package, also known as the American Rescue Plan, includes $1.9 trillion of federal funding and a considerable child tax credits increase.
The bill would see the annual entitlement raised to up to $3,600-per-child, but how does that compare to the existing programme? We take a look...
Republican lawmakers want stimulus checks reduced to $1,000
As Democrats prepare to officially table President Biden's covid-19 economic relief bill in Congress, a group of 10 GOP Senators have reportedly made an alternative suggestion. They see Biden's $1.9 trillion as too expensive, and have proposed a $600 billion package instead.
The Republican's bill would only include stimulus checks worth $1,000 per person, and the eligibility requirements would be tightened so fewer Americans would receive payments. They contend that this would help focus the money on those who are most in need of support.
The letter presenting their proposal to the White House reads: “We request the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our proposal in greater detail and how we can work together to meet the needs of the American people during this persistent pandemic."
Is there a third stimulus check coming in February?
Sanders willing to use reconciliation to pass new stimulus checks
As the Democrats prepare to table President Joe Biden’s long-awaited covid-19 economic relief bill, millions of Americans are hoping that a third round of stimulus check payments could be on the horizon.
Another wave of direct payments would be the third since the pandemic first took hold nearly a year ago. The CARES Act, signed into law in March 2020, provided a round of $1,200 payments and December’s emergency relief bill included a further $600 stimulus check.
After facing renewed opposition from GOP lawmakers today Sen. Bernie Sanders has confirmed that he is willing to use a process known as reconciliation to pass the package without bipartisan support.
Biden sticks to $1,400 stimulus checks
In recent days there has been some criticism of President Biden's decision to stick with the $1,400 stimulus checks included in the American Rescue Plan announced earlier this month. The Democrats are painting the support as the 'second part' of a round of $2,000 stimulus checks, coming so soon after a round of $600 payments was made in January.
Although some want more Senate Republicans have actually said that the package is too expensive, and unneccessary after the $900 billion emergency bill was signed in Decemeber. On Sunday a group of 10 Republican senators led by Susan Collins of Maine proposed a package worth just $600bn, less than a third of the $1.9tn stimulus package Biden is looking to pass.
More calls for recurring stimulus check payments
Leading Democrats have confirmed that they intent to formally table President Biden's American Rescue Plan in Congress on either Monday or Tuesday next week. The covid-19 economic stimulus bill has been a contentious subject since the election, and some have criticised the $1,400 stimulus checks included within as insufficient.
There are growing calls from progressives from within Biden's own party to replace the one-off payments with recurring stimulus checks, providing a monthly sum to struggling individuals and families. Last week a group of more than 50 lawmakers signed a letter calling on Biden to do more, and former Democrat nominee Pam Keith has echoed the calls.
Stimulus plus vaccines required
As the stimulus relief package continues to be debated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that it had administered 31,123,299 doses of covid-19 vaccines in the country as of Sunday morning and distributed 49,933,250 doses.
The doses are for both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines as of 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, the agency said.
According to the tally, the agency had administered 29,577,902 doses of the vaccines and distributed 49,932,850 doses. The agency said 25,201,143 people had received one or more doses while 5,657,142 people have gotten a second dose as of Sunday.
A total of 3,683,718 vaccine doses have been administered in long-term care facilities, the agency said.
Trump impeachment lead lawyers quit ahead of Congress trial
Stimulus relief amid impeachment
With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expecting that both chambers of Congress would be ready to move forward through reconciliation by the end of the coming week, we are reminded today again of other pressing activity to take place in the Senate.
Ideally the relief package can be agreed upon and signed off prior to the beginning of former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial, although confidence levels are not high.
News broke today that things are not going well for Trump's legal team either, with a number of the lawyers set to make his case leaving.
Full story:
Bipartisan bills and unity
'Elections and polling aside, it could also be the case that Biden truly believes the nation should seek unity but also that his policies will help people and move us toward unity, even if Republicans on the Hill do not support them,' says fivethirtyeight.com contributor Perry Bacon to begin this thread.
'It is also worth remembering that Republican senators are political actors too. It would be useful for Romney, Murkowski, and Collins, if they plan to remain in the Republican Party, to vote against the Biden stimulus if they are going to vote to convict Trump,' he added.
Stimulus check economics
Democratic nominee for the18th Congressional District, Pam Keith, puts a case forward for the simple economics for giving everyone a $2,000 stimulus check on a recurring monthly basis.
Is it really that simple though?
"There is no time for any delays. We could end up with 4 million fewer jobs this year.
"It could take a year longer to return to full employment if we don't act and don't act now."
Moderate Republican senators urge Biden to compromise on covid-19 plan
A group of 10 moderate Republican US senators urged Democratic President Joe Biden on Sunday to reconsider his $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief package, saying they wanted a meeting to discuss a compromise that they said could win swift bipartisan support.
In a letter to Biden, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney and seven other senators said they would unveil on Monday their proposed legislation to address the coronavirus crisis.
The progress of Biden's package to support individuals and businesses will be an early test of the new US president's promise to work across the political divide.
Some Republicans, who have lost control of the Senate, have questioned the cost, while others urged more targeted measures.
"Our proposal reflects many of your stated priorities, and with your support, we believe that this plan could be approved quickly by Congress with bipartisan support," the group wrote in the letter, whose signatories also included Bill Cassidy, Shelley Moore Capito, Todd Young, Jerry Moran, Michal Rounds.
Rob Portman, who has announced he will not seek re-election in 2022, also signed the letter, which said the group wished to "work in good faith" with the new administration.
Stimulus compromise?
Staying with the proposed meeting between Republicans and Biden, Scott Heins puts forward the argument that this may not be the time for compromise.
Republican stimulus plan
According to Danny Cage, among many others, the Republican plan to discuss the relief package with President Biden is simply a way for them to add things like tax breaks for the wealthy.
Oh, but then, they'll not vote to pass it. We've been here before.
Third stimulus check: what did Biden say about pushing for payments?
Joe Biden on stimulus relief
"That this is a unique moment and the cost of inaction is high"
On Friday, as a very busy January for President Joe Biden drew towards its end, the new leader told Congress lawmakers that they must take immediate action on his $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief proposal.
The case on further economic stimulus was clear he said, and it was backed up by most economists.
Justice for the poor and oppressed
An argument made against the Democrats' decision to what is said to be making the American public feel 'shortchanged on a key campaign promise'.
Online frustration over $2,000 stimulus checks
Americans are showing their frustration and anger online as they believed that President Joe Biden was going to deliver $2,000 stimulus checks to those affected by unemployment as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“One of the first things that I want to do when our new senators are seated is deliver the $2,000 checks to the American families,” Sen. Chuck Schumer told reporters in early January.
"[Biden] will build on the $600 down payment provided by Congress last year, sending an additional $1,400 to households across America, totaling direct payments to $2,000 per person," the Democratic party posted over the weekend.
Some using the hashtag #BidenLied on Twitter have insisted that the President had promised individual $2,000 payments, rather than $1,400 on top of $600 checks.
Stimulus check: why is #BidenLied trending?
Why is #BidenLied trending?
President Joe Biden's critics are claiming he "lied" about the size and promptness of stimulus checks promised to Americans during campaigning in the Georgia runoffs.
On Sunday, the #BidenLied hashtag began trending on Twitter after the Democratic Party shared a tweet that outlined Biden's plans to get $1,400 checks to most Americans.
Full story:
Second stimulus check: how to claim your missing payment
Second stimulus check: how to claim your missing payment
Didn’t get your second stimulus check? You can claim your missing payment as part of your 2020 tax return. Here's how to do so...
$3000/$3600 child tax credit: what did Republicans say about stimulus plan?
$3000/$3600 child tax credit: what did Republicans say about stimulus plan?
While many Republicans have supported a new round of stimulus payments as part of the plan, they have been less enthusiastic on the child tax credit proposal and are expected to oppose the measure...
$2k stimulus checks will take more time to negotiate - says Rep. Van Taylor
Increasing stimulus to $2,000 payments will require more time to negotiate between Congress and the White House, Rep. Van Taylor said in an interview this weekend.
$15 minimum wage hike
One of the most striking inlcusions in Joe Biden's $1.9trn American Rescue Plan was a planned increase in the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. But now the president is reportedly weighing up whether to keep it there...
Billionaires blame stimulus checks fo Gamestop surge
Billionaire “Bond King” Jeffrey Gundlach has said stimulus cheques are to blame for the massive surges in stocks like GameStop that’ve caused Wall Street firms huge losses.
“In this case thanks to primarily government policy there’s wherewithal among investors, if you want to call them that, with government money being sprayed all over the place, with checks to people, that they have the wherewithal to put it together into a real capital base,” told Fox Business on Friday.
“In this case there were 2.1 million people that somehow got organized on Reddit and managed to get about $20bn in buying power, and they found an opportunity to pile drive these hedge funds.”
Third stimulus check: lawmakers pressure Biden for $2,000 recurring payments
Lawmakers pressure Biden for $2,000 recurring payments
A letter signed by over 50 lawmakers calls for Biden's covid-19 relief bill to include monthly direct payments, a proposal that the Vice President has previously supported...
Democrats will use reconciliation to pass Biden's stimulus bill
Despite some very public opposition from leading Republicans in recent days, it seems like the likelihood of a third round of stimulus checks is improving. There may not be the bipartisan support that President Joe Biden was hoping for, but Sen. Bernie Sanders has confirmed that the party are willing to use the process of reconciliation to pass the $1.9 trillion package.
While Sanders acknowledged that the move may not be popular with the GOP, he outline the need to use reconciliation "to pass legislation desperately needed by working families in this country right now."
After ten months of the pandemic and subsequent economic disruption, Congress has so far agreed stimulus check payments worth just $1,800 per person. Biden and the Democrats are eager to address that early in his presidency.
Dems "shoot themselves in the foot" with $1,400 stimulus checks
Despite general approval for President Biden's new covid-19 economic relief bill, many are disappointed that it does not include a separate $2,000 stimulus check that had been suggested. Instead, the American Rescue Plan will provide an additional $1,400 direct payment to 'top up' the $600 checks distributed earlier this month.
Amongst those who have criticised the decision is actor and activist Bree Newsome who described it as "missing an unguarded layup". There have been attempts by progressive Representatives in the Democrat's caucus to raise the amount to a flat $2,000, or even to replace the stimulus check provision with a recurring monthly payment.
Biden releases secret Trump administration pandemic reports
Biden releases secret Trump administration pandemic reports
The Biden administration have announced that they will be publishing the weekly state-specific covid-19 reports which outline the federal government’s response to the pandemic. Crucially they will also be releasing old reports retroactively, meaning that records from the Trump administration will also be made public.
The earliest of these reports date back to June 2020 and were the subject of tight censorship during President Trump’s time in office. The reports were issued to state officials every week but they were not providers to reporters or published publically. CNN have since reported that the Trump administration attempted to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic.
Biden releases secret Trump administration pandemic reports
The Biden administration have announced that they will be publishing the weekly state-specific covid-19 reports which outline the federal government’s response to the pandemic. Crucially they will also be releasing old reports retroactively, meaning that records from the Trump administration will also be made public.
The earliest of these reports date back to June 2020 and were the subject of tight censorship during President Trump’s time in office. The reports were issued to state officials every week but they were not providers to reporters or published publically. CNN have since reported that the Trump administration attempted to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic.
US stimulus checks: live updates
Welcome to our daily live blog this Sunday, 31 January bringing you news and information on the third round of stimulus checks proposed in US President Joe Biden's $1.9tn American Rescue Plan.