Democratic senators propose $2,000 monthly payments to most Americans

[RandySF]

A trio of Democratic senators are pitching a big idea: pay most American families thousands of dollars each month until the coronavirus’s economic crisis subsides.

On Friday, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) will release their Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act. It would dramatically expand upon the $1,200 sent to Americans as part of March’s gargantuan coronavirus response bill.

The legislation would send a monthly $2,000 check to people who make less than $120,000. It would expand to $4,000 to married couples who file taxes jointly and also provide $2,000 for each child up to three. Harris said the bill is a reflection that Congress’s efforts so far were not “nearly enough to meet the needs of this historic crisis” and Markey called the massive cash infusion “the most direct and efficient mechanism for delivering economic relief to those most vulnerable.”

“Congress has a responsibility to make sure that every working-class household in America receives a $2,000 emergency payment a month for each family member,” Sanders said.

The payments would be retroactive to March and last until three months after the Health and Human Services Department has declared the public health emergency over. The legislation would also bar debt collectors from taking the payments, and would deliver them regardless of whether people have a Social Security number or filed taxes last year.



https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/08/monthly-payments-2000-coronavirus-243670

[Iliyah]

1. Good luck on that . .

[DURHAM D]

2. Ain't gonna happen. nt

[MineralMan]

3. That's not going to pass through Congress, nor would

Trump sign it.

There is simply not money available to cover such payments.

[KayF]

8. there's not enough money for anything

so we run a deficit.

[dawg day]

11. It's not that there's not enough money--

Unlike when Congress can always come up with a trillion or two for a taxcut for rich people, giving a steady small income to regular people gets money into circulation.

Money circulating in the economy creates jobs, supports businesses, and increases tax revenues. There is of course the danger of inflation ('printing money'), but inflation has been about nil for a very long time and isn't much of a danger (DEflation is a danger).

The US has enough money to fight two wars, one for almost two decades now, and still give multiple taxcuts to wealthy investors. Neither of these expenditures do much to inject money into the economy. (Tax cuts even for the middle class are pretty inefficient, because it's months before the money is in anyone's wallet.)

We have the money to support families. We don't have the political will. Or rather, we have a GOP senate and "president", and they don't care.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Would love for it to happen, but Moscow Mitch won't play, I'm sure...

but it is good to see an idea like this mainstreamed, at least.

[Baclava]

5. I'll take a one time check for $10,000, that sounds fair

[pnwest]

6. I could hang on for months with just one more

$2000 check. Just one more stimulus check and I could probably just squeak by without losing my tiny little art studio / shop.

[LenaBaby61]

7. I know many retirees & Vets ...

Who still haven't recieved their first Stimulus Check. Something about their not being enough on the record to establish yada, yada, yada, even though ALL of them have had Social Security deposits put into their bank accounts for a long while, and although all of them quailfy for the stimulus payment 🙄

But as others have said that's not going to pass, but I guess just putting this OUT there ....

This isn't Canada:

This week, other business closures have once again put millions of workers out of work and income. An economic analyst suggests that some 4 million Canadians could lose their jobs. Today the Canadian government announces that Canadians who have lost their jobs, those who are ill, quarantined or caring for a person with COVID 19, and parents who have to stop working to care for children will also be eligible for the UDP.

“We recognize that there are people who are facing difficulties [right now], that there are people who stopped working almost two weeks ago. We’re going to do everything we can to help them with access to credit, with other measures,” said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa will provide workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with $2,000 a month for the next four months to help them pay their rent and groceries. Mr. Trudeau told his daily news conference that the government is aware of the uncertainty facing the country and has merged two public assistance measures into a single program to make it easier for people to apply and receive money. (Globe and Mail)

The new benefit combines the $10-billion emergency-care benefit and the $5-billion emergency-support benefit that were announced last week. (Global and Mail)

https://www.pressenza.com/2020/03/canadian-workers-affected-by-covid-19-will-received-2000-per-month/

[durablend]

9. Yeah that'll never happen here

You'll be told "Get back to work or no unemployment checks and don't you DARE think about suing your employer when you catch the corona"

[KayF]

10. so relieved they are doing this

the Dems have to face this crisis this way or we're headed for a nightmarish future. I hope they stick it out and we need to support them.

[Bayard]

12. Not a hope in hell of it passing

But I appreciate the thought.