Second Stimulus Check: What Should Americans Expect Following Trump Negotiations?
President Donald Trump and GOP Senators held their negotiations over the next coronavirus relief bill in Capitol Hill on Monday night. With the pandemic still on high gear, millions of Americans are waiting for the Congress to finalize what would be included and excluded from the next bill.
The White House meeting came as Congress aims to pass more financial and federal aid before lawmakers are scheduled to leave for a month-long recess in August. With little time left, Republicans are scrambling to get on the same page before they begin negotiations with Democrats.
Here is everything that may be included in the next stimulus package.
Payroll Tax Cut
Trump has thrown a big wrench into the negotiations. The Republican leader demanded that a payroll tax cut be included in the upcoming bill. He also said he would consider not signing the bill if his demand is not met.
Leaving the meeting on Monday night, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the payroll tax cut would definitely be included in the yet-to-be-released bill. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows also confirmed the news. The policy would come despite not having the support of many Republican senators, the NBC News reported.
Unemployment Benefits
In May, House Democrats proposed a $3 trillion relief package that included an extension of the $600 weekly payment into 2021. However, that bill did not pass in the Senate.
Mnuchin suggested lowering the weekly payment to a monthly payment of $200 or $400. Republicans claim the amount could help support households, while still encouraging Americans to look for work.
Senators also proposed coupling the unemployment benefits with a "back to work" bonus. If passed, Americans, who return to work and leave unemployment rolls, could receive an unspecified amount of cash as an incentive, as reported by Fortune.
Coronavirus Testing and Tracing
During the negotiations, Trump also urged Republicans to reduce or slash funding for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing and contact tracing.
According to South Dakota Senator John Thune, Senate Republicans are likely to push back on the idea of cutting the funding for coronavirus testing and containment efforts.
Stimulus Checks
The administration has voiced its support for another round of direct payments meant to help people. Previously, it was reported that Americans, who earn more than $40,000, may not be eligible for the second stimulus check.
While nothing is final, Thune said there is high interest in helping people, who belong on the lower end of the income scale. The next check may be somewhere between $1,000 and $1,200.
School Reopening
After the meeting, Mnuchin said the bill may include over $70 billion that would go towards restarting school operations.
The treasury secretary also met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel at the White House earlier Monday, where they discussed a variety of proposals that would help schools receive funding and start conducting classes.