Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Deplored the effort to lower the income limit for the stimulus check eligibility in Covid’s latest aid package on Sunday, calling it “absurd” and meaningless.
“Well, I think what we did in the past and what we promised the American people, we said two things last month,” Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, told CNN “State of the Union”. “We said we’re going to get you $ 2,000. And that’s $ 600 plus $ 1,400. And what we’re going to do is say that everyone, a single person, individual $ 75,000 or less, and some of $ 150,000 or less, will be eligible for that total of $ 2,000, $ 600 plus $ 1,400. “
“Now, when people said, ‘We don’t want the rich to get that benefit,’ I understand. I agree,” continued Sanders. He added: “But to tell a worker in Vermont or California or anywhere else that if you’re making $ 52,000 a year, you’re too rich to receive that help, the full benefit, I find that absurd.”
Senate Democrats are divided over who should be eligible for a new round of checks as they seek to approve a new stimulus package. The last round of checks was canceled for people who earn more than $ 99,000 or couples who earn more than $ 198,000. In his initial proposal, Biden recommended that same limit.
Last week, Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., offered a non-binding amendment backed by some other Democrats who seek to “ensure that high-income taxpayers are not eligible” for checks. Manchin wants the elimination of stimulus checks to start at $ 50,000 per person or $ 100,000 per couple, instead of $ 75,000 and $ 150,000.
Biden also opened the door to adjusting income levels on a Wednesday call with Democrats.
Speaking with CNN’s “State of the Union”, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that Biden thinks it appropriate that those who earn more than $ 50,000 get the full benefit, although she did not say whether that sentiment reaches $ 75,000.
“Well, President Biden is certainly willing to work with members of Congress to define what is fair,” she said. “And he wouldn’t want a family earning more than $ 300,000 to receive those payments. But if you think of an elementary school teacher or a police officer who earns $ 60,000 a year and comes across children who are out of school and people who can having had to withdraw from the workforce to take care of them and many extra charges, I would say – he thinks, and I would certainly agree – that it is appropriate for people there to get support. “
In an interview with ABC’s “This Week” program, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg pushed for immediate action when asked whether it is worth lowering the limit if it means approving the bill earlier.
“Look, there is an active conversation going on now, obviously, but the bottom line is that we have to support as many Americans as we can, as robustly as possible and as quickly as possible,” he said. “Time is essential.”
