Pelosi, Sanders, AOC Back Trump on His Call To Increase Next Stimulus Check To $2,000

By Mary Anne R. First Posted: Dec 23, 2020 04:50 AM EST

President Donald Trump is asking lawmakers to amend the new coronavirus relief bill and increase the next stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600.

He also requested to increase the stimulus checks for couples to $4,000, as CNBC reported.

The president did not directly threaten to veto the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package bill. However, he described the measure as an unsuitable disgrace.

Some top Democratic officials supported Trump's proposal, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

"It's called the Covid relief bill but it has almost nothing to do with Covid," the president said in a Fox News report.

Trump noted the bill also allows stimulus checks for illegal immigrants' family members, providing them to get up to $1,800 each. The president added that this is far more than the Americans are given.

According to Pelosi, Republicans repeatedly declined to say what amount the president wanted for direct checks. However, she was glad that the president has agreed to $2,000.

"Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let's do it!" Pelosi tweeted.

Ocasio-Cortez also supported Trump's call. The representative said that she was glad to see that the president is willing to support their legislation, adding that they can pass the $2,000 checks this week if the GOP-controlled Senate agrees to stand down.

Sanders then retweeted Pelosi's tweet and wrote that he first offered to provide a $2,000 direct payment with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Sen. Ed Markey seven months ago.

A senior Democratic aide said the House Democrats would try to pass a standalone bill for $2,000 direct payments on Thursday. However, it is still unclear whether it would pass a GOP-led Senate or even receive the unanimous decision needed in the House.

COVID-19 Relief Package

The said measure includes direct payments of up to $600 to qualified adults, plus $600 per child dependents.

The adult benefit is half the size of the first stimulus check passed, while benefits for qualifying dependents increased by $100. At the full benefit amount, a family of four could receive $2,400.

Are You Qualified?

Meanwhile, those who will qualify for the maximum stimulus payment include persons earning up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income (AGI), or $112,500 as head of household, and $150,000 as a married couple filing jointly.

Payments are reduced at the same rate as the CARES Act checks and are docked $5 for every $100 earned over these income thresholds. But the AGI caps are lower this time.

Individuals with 87,000 income and married couples who filed jointly with an income of $174,000 will not receive any payment. With this, fewer people will qualify for payments, and those who do receive a check will be getting a lot less.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin earlier said eligible Americans could see direct payments reaching their bank accounts in a matter of days or starting next week.

Beneficiaries include those who signed up to receive a refund by direct deposit when filing their 2018 and/or 2019 taxes. It may extend to the 14 million people who signed up for their details via two new online tools the IRS established this spring.