Senate Reveals $500 Billion Relief Bill, but Will It Include Stimulus Check 2?

By Madelaine D. First Posted: Sep 10, 2020 04:58 AM EDT

Unfortunately, a second stimulus check is not included in the new COVID-19 relief bill unveiled by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday.

The new $500 billion "skinny" bill attempts to bypass the stalled stimulus-spending negotiations with the target initiatives, as per Tom's Guide.

The relief bill includes weekly $300 in unemployment benefits through December 27, liability insurance for institutions trying to reopen during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and aid for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the new bill today amid calls from lawmakers of both Republicans and Democrats and the White House to make a deal on stimulus spending, according to Politico.

Asserting that the vote will happen this week, McConnell said: "The American people don't need us to keep arguing over what might be perfect, they need us to make a law."

But it is not clear if the proposed "skinny" bill will have enough votes to clear a majority, much less top the Senate's 60-vote threshold to pass it.

The $500 billion stimulus bill, which is far off from the Democrats' $2 trillion wish list that includes stimulus check 2, seems to lack universal GOP support.

Senate Reveals $500 Billion, Relief Bill. Does it Include Stimulus Check 2?

(Photo : Alex Wong)
Negotiations Over Second Coronavirus Relief Bill Continue On The Hill WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 04: U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin speaks to the media as White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows listens after a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) at the U.S. Capitol August 4, 2020 in Washington, DC. Negotiations between Mnuchin, Meadows, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) on a new relief package to help people and businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic will continue tomorrow.

The Politico reported that Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) said he's not for borrowing any more money.

The bill needs at least 51 GOP votes to achieve a significant majority. Because of the Senate's filibuster rule, the "skinny" bill needs 60 votes to pass and it is impossible to happen unless 45 from the Democrats and two New England independents will break ranks.

Now that the Senate is on their regular session after its August recess, we could see that efforts are made toward another round of direct payments.

Democrats are still pushing for the HEROES Act's resemblance, which was first passed in May. But the Democrats knocked $1 trillion off the overall cost of the legislation during negotiations with the Republicans.

Both the GOP's rival HEALS Act and the HEROES Act were proposed in July. However, none introduced them for a vote or promised another round of $1,200 stimulus checks for the qualified taxpayers.

The two parties are still $700 billion apart, even if you think that the new bill might be enough to have an agreement and to get the ball rolling. Republicans want to spend a lot less based on evaluating a relief bill's impact on the economy.

On the other hand, Democrats want to give lots of money to state and municipal governments to resume the $600 weekly unemployment benefit and offset tax shortfalls.

The persistence of Democrats might lead to eventual legislation, but the stimulus check 2 date remains tentative and in limbo until agreements are finalized. That's why the GOP are putting the contentious proposals into the "skinny" relief bill.

In a previous Latin Post report, President Donald Trump suggested releasing the $300 billion unspent coronavirus relief money intended for small-business and using it to send out new stimulus checks.

Lawmakers knew of the looming budget deadline. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have agreed to avoid a government shutdown with a short-term spending bill if both parties are still at odds until the end of the month.

Mnuchin and Pelosi's apparent cooperation on government spending could be a good sign for the outcome of stimulus spending, which means there is a possibility that a second round of stimulus check would still be included.