Today was the first day that the Senate was back in action but we did not find out much today in regards to how the debates are picking up.
Still, we did recently hear from some some senators which gave us an idea of where things might be going and it was NOT quite in the direction that I thought it would be.
Here’s a rundown of where things currently stand.
Not all Democrats are 100% on board
The proposed HEROES Act easily passed the House of Representatives which is controlled by Democrats.
And most of the voiced opposition that we have seen has come from the Republicans in the Senate but there are some Democrats in the Senate, including those on the Senate Finance Committee, who have shown interest in measures that don’t necessarily support direct payments to a broad group.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) seems to be prioritizing other policies like expanding unemployment benefits and assisting small businesses ahead of direct payments.
“My top priorities are tying expanded unemployment benefits to economic conditions and providing more help for the smallest of small businesses.” He even acknowledged there’s been “a little bit of debate” among Democratic senators regarding a second round of stimulus checks.
So I don’t think we can take it as a given that Democrats are going to be 100% on board with direct payments, at least not as a priority.
GOP members are on board for a slowly developing, narrowly tailored package
GOP members in the Senate have already called the act “dead on arrival.”
But that is no surprise as Democrats included provisions in the bill that they knew for certain would not be passed as a negotiation tactic.
But some GOP members still believe that another package will be passed.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recently stated, “We’re taking a careful look at a fourth and final bill” and that we could “anticipate the decision being made on whether to go forward in about a month.”
He also reiterated that “it will be narrowly crafted, designed to help us where we are a month from now, not where we were three months ago.”
So based on that language it looks like we will see a slowly developing package over the next month that may end up being the final bit of aid.
And that package may be quite narrow, which echoes what some Democrat Senators have stated like Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) who said the next round of stimulus relief “should be focused on households hit the hardest.”
The White House is on board
President Trump already stated that he thinks there will be another round of payments.
Around a week ago, when he was asked about a second round of stimulus checks by reporters during a visit to a factory in Michigan, he stated:
“I think there will be a second payment to help Americans move on. We will give them money towards the end of the outbreak. Right now we are focusing on reopening the country.”
And, there’s an emphasis on payments coming slowly or at a later time, perhaps a couple of months down the road.
Final word
So that’s where we stand now.
There is mixed support among lawmakers but there seems to be support for more aid coming in on some level and not in any major rush. I think the key is just waiting to see how “narrowly tailored” this package is truly going to be.
You can calculate what your payment would be using this calculator here.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
It would be nice for those of us that didn’t get a stimulus check the first time because we were claimed as dependants to help our children out but got screwed in the deal to get something this second time around and inckund something extra
I’m on ssi which in everyday rules is not and can not be garnished by child support but during this stimulus it was singled out and made garnishable I received nothing. The back story is too long so I won’t get into it but the bottom line is it was from 19 years ago in which makes my daughter now a grown woman just turned 23 and is now married she received their stimulus I am paid 783.00 a month to live on because I can’t work I’ve had two heart attacks have lupus im in chronic renal failure have a hard time remembering things because of organic brain damage that happened in my twenties and to top it off I have serious heart problems caused by my lupus it’s attacking all of my organs. It doesn’t seem fair to give unemployment recipients an extra 600 a week on top of their weekly benefit amount which is 2400.00 just in extras plus they got their stimulus on top of that people that owe back income tax didn’t have to pay small businesses get the much needed help they need payroll loans are forgiven along with student loans etc etc but social security recipients that are the poorest people in our nation and live 110% below poverty level got a lousy 54.00 extra a month in food stamps and that is it thank you it’s appreciated trust me but really come on its just clarification that the impoverish is under the elite thumb and will never be given the chance to get a head. Breaks my heart ~ disappointed and scared in Washington State
I agree 100 %….I’m also on S.S.D. and S.S.I. and didn’t get a check. I can’t work either. It is so sad because we are the poorest people and we’ve already worked and paid in our share in taxes. Now were struggling to survive. I’m so sorry to hear about your health, ill be praying for you.