$1,400 stimulus check news summary, Saturday 6 February
US stimulus check latest news
Headlines
- The Senate adopts a budget resolution that will allow the $1.9trnstimulus bill to be passed
- VP Kamala Harris required to break Senate deadlock (51-50)
- Senate voted in favour of non-binding amendment to tighten stimulus check eligibility
- Group of 10 Republican lawmakers had proposed new $600bn covid relief bill with $1,000 stimulus checks (full details)
- GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell: "They've chosen a totally partisan path."
- Biden intent on passing $1,400 stimulus checks as part of his American Rescue Plan
- Group of 50 House Democrats call on Biden to consider recurring $2,000 stimulus checks
- Reports that Biden is willing to alter eligibility requirements to pass stimulus checks (full story)
- Adult dependents could be entitled to $2,000 stimulus checks ($1,400 + $600) as retroactive payment
- Proposal could see child tax credit max entitlement raised to $3,600 per dependent in stimulus plan (full details)
- US covid-19 cases/deaths: >26.6 million / 455,875 (live updates)
Super Bowl seats to go to vaccinated healthcare workers
About 7,500 vaccinated healthcare workers are getting a big "thank you" for their tireless work – tickets to the Super Bowl.
Third stimulus check: when can Biden sign the bill after the Senate passes it?
When could Biden sign a new round of stimulus checks?
Democrats are racing forward to pass a new coronavirus relief package, possibly in the next four weeks. Biden could sign it as soon as it hits his desk.
Read the full story:
"Unbelievable. There are some Dems who want to lower the income eligibility for direct payments from $75,000 to $50,000 for individuals, and $150,000 to $100,000 for couples. In other words, working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!"
Third stimulus check: $1.9 trillion package breakdown
Democrats set to write $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief legislation
Democrats are moving forward with Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package with plans to speed it through House before the end of the month.
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What did President Biden say about US position in the world?
President Biden on America's place in the world
In a lengthy address on foreign affairs, President Biden spoke on many issues including those facing US relations with Yemen, China and Russia.
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What is invoking the 25th amendment and is it related to Trump's impeachment?
Trump's impeachment and the 25th amendment
Donald Trump's second impeachment trial is about to begin. Why wasn't the 25th amendment invoked instead, and what's the difference between the two?
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President Biden on passing stimulus bill with $1,400 stimulus checks
With reference to the budget reconciliation that passed through Congress with ease yesterday, and will pave the way for a third stimulus check to be approved with no GOP support, Biden sends message that he doesn't need to appease Republicans when it comes to his stimulus bill plans.
"If I have to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting and getting bogged down in a lengthy negotiation — it’s an easy choice. I'm going to help the American people who are hurting." The President tweeted.
First ever immigrant secretary of Homeland Security sworn in
Alejandro Mayorkas is the first Latino and the first immigrant to be sworn in as secretary of Homeland Security. Mayorkas’ family came to the U.S. from Cuba as refugees in the 1960s. Mayorkas previously served as DHS deputy secretary under Obama.
The hope of getting a covid-19 vaccine
Times editor Hannah Wise describes the ray of hope of getting her coronavirus vaccine.
WATCH: Biden on Stimulus: "They’re going to be $1400, period"
Yesterday, President Biden touted his American Rescue Plan: “I'm not cutting the size of the checks. They’re going to be $1400, period. That's what the American people were promised.”
White House Press Secretary: we don't think much about Trump
WH Press Secretary Jen Psaki today hit back at a question from a reporter on what impact Trump's legacy has on the current relationship between the GOP and Democrats.
‘This may be hard to believe. We don’t spend a lot of time talking about or thinking about President Trump here—former President Trump, to be clear … I can’t say we miss him on Twitter’ Psaki responded.
Third stimulus check: who voted to pass budget resolution through Senate?
Who voted to pass a budget resolution through Senate?
Biden’s stimulus bill, which would include a third round of new checks, is edging ever closer to being passed now that Democrats don't need GOP support.
Are the covid-19 vaccines safe if you're pregnant?
Vox have some clues:
—So far, there haven't been adverse effects in pregnant people who have gotten it.
—These vaccines don’t have live virus.
—It's very unlikely the vaccine will reach the bloodstream.
Two GOP lawmakers hit with $5,000 fines for dodging metal detectors
Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) were each fined $5,000 on Friday for refusing to go through a metal detector before entering the House chamber.
A fine for another infraction could be as much as $10,000 each. The penalties will automatically be deducted from their salaries if they lose any appeals and refuse to pay.
Gohmert said in a statement Friday later that he’ll be “appealing the fine and taking whatever action is necessary, especially considering this policy is unconstitutional.” That may come as a surprise to Americans with less lofty positions who have been required to go through metal detectors for years.
The GOP lawmakers were the first to be fined for refusing to cooperate with the new security measure passed by the House on Tuesday following the violent storming of the Capitol by Donald Trump supporters last month. Five people died during the insurrection.
Biden discusses rescue plan and stimulus bill with US citizen
Every week, the President is going to communicate directly with Americans and lift up their stories. This is the first.
Missouri Rep. Cori Bush on stimulus affordability
The House member from St Louis spoke to the Daily Show's Trevor Noah on complaints over the price tag for third stimulus checks, underlining that the government is keeping the Space Force department, which cost billions to establish.
Worst ways to use stimulus checks
According to financial analyst Suze Orman, the new payment, that could arrive within the next month or so may well be used unwisely.
Orman wants you to start thinking now about what you’d do with new covid relief cash. She says there are right ways and wrong ways people have been using their stimulus checks.
Her general advice on the topic is to think “right now” and think long term and think of others. More specifically, Orman says avoid these three common stimulus check mistakes.
1. Not taking care of bills first
2. Not building an emergency fund
3. Keeping the money if they don’t need it
Read her advice below:
AOC slams plans to lower income thresholds for stimulus checks
While there are indications that Biden and the Dems wll be willing to lower the income thresholds in a more "targeted" third stimulus check, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has expressed that she is firmly against the idea.
"We cannot cut off relief at $50k. It is shockingly out of touch to assert that $50k is “too wealthy” to receive relief. Millions are on the brink of eviction. Give too little and they’re devastated. Give 'too much' and a single mom might save for a rainy day. This isn’t hard," tweeted the New York representative.
Susan Surandon criticizes Biden over stimulus checks
Susan Sarandon has slammed President Biden and Democrats for pulling a “bait and switch” after they had initially promised stimulus checks worth $2,000 during the election campaign.
“Where are the $2K checks you promised @JoeBiden @KamalaHarris @ReverendWarnock @ossoff?” Sarandon, 74, tweeted Thursday.
“The diff between $1,400 & $2K is a matter of survival,” she said.
In a seperate post, the actress told her nearly 685,000 followers, “If voters feel like Dems are pulling a bait and switch, don’t be surprised when they don’t show up in 2022 or 2024.”
Biden says stimulus payments "will be $1,400. Period."
While some Republicans have called for the third stimulus check to be lowered to $1,000, President Joe Biden has assured that the payments "will be $1,400. Period."
“I’m not cutting the size of the checks,” Biden said. “They’re going to be $1,400. Period. That’s what the American people were promised.”
IRS mistakenly told thousands they would not recieve stimulus checks
The IRS mistakenkly told thousands of American that they were not inline to recieve a stimulus check.
The agency sent letters to more than 109,000 people stating that either part or all of their money would go to cover 2007 taxes. The IRS now says that letter was a mistake.
Did the Senate pass the third stimulus check? Democrats are closer thanks to "vote-a-rama"
Did the Senate pass the third stimulus check? Democrats are closer thanks to "vote-a-rama"
On early Friday morning, the Senate passed a budget resolution that paves the way for President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package to be passed. The 51-50 vote in the Senate required the tie-breaking intervention of Vice President Kamala Harris as both caucuses voted along party lines.
Although this does not formally pass Biden’s covid-19 relief bill, it allows the Democrats to go ahead with the reconciliation process which will allow them the pass the package without bipartisan support.
Full story:
WATCH: Biden speaks about his stimulus bill, the American Rescue Plan
President Biden gives his thoughts on the vote in the Senate this morning which gave Democrats the ability the pass his stimulus bill without bipartisan support. He has already reaffirmed his commitment to passing stimulus checks worth $1,400, saying it was an "easy choice".
He added: "I'm going to act. I'm going to act fast. I'd like to do it with the support of Republicans ... But they are not willing to go as far as we need to go"
Minimum wage hike may bite the dust in covid-19 stimulus bill
A federal minimum wage hike to $15 per hour may not make it into the new coronavirus relief plan after all, President Biden said Friday evening in an interview with CBS Evening News.
The pay increase had been a key part of Biden’s plan and supporters of the policy were hopeful it would pass with the $1.9 trillion relief package, which was brought a step closer Friday when budget reconciliation passed through Congress.
Third stimulus check calculator: how much could you receive?
Third stimulus check calculator: how much could you receive?
Now that the wheels are in motion for Democrats to pass a $1.9tn covid relief bill without the support of the GOP, here's a look at what the scope may be.
Will there be a fourth stimulus check after the third one?
Will there be a fourth stimulus check after the third one?
With the budget resolution now passed in the House and the Senate, a third stimulus check is edging closer. What’s the outlook for a fourth?
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How to distribute third stimulus check?
Democratic lawmakers are debating over how the direct cash payments in Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief package should be distributed.
Negotiations continue over who should receive the checks. Some moderate Democrats, including Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have called for phasing out the checks at a lower income level.
The president has affirmed again and again that the size of the check will not change, rejecting calls from some Republicans to lower the size of the checks from $1,400 to $1,000.
“I’m not cutting the size of the checks,” Biden said today. “They’re going to be $1,400. Period. That’s what the American people were promised.”
What is Adjusted Gross Income?
Adjusted Gross Income explained
The Senate has voted in favour of a resolution that will allow Democrats to pass a new round of stimulus checks, but who is eligible for the direct payments?
Budget resolution passes Democrat-led House
The House has just passed the Senate-approved budget resolution, paving the way for the chamber to take up Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief proposal including $1,400 stimulus checks in the coming weeks.
The House voted 219-209 along mostly partly lines to approve the resolution as amended by the Senate.
Hello and welcome!
Hello and welcome to our live updates from the US, including all the latest on the $1,400 stimulus check.