Senator Bernie Sanders issued a warning on Sunday about lowering the limit for Americans to receive coronavirus relief checks, saying he agrees to a cut for those who earn the most, but not for the working class who earn $ 50,000 a year.
President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan calls for sending $ 1,400 checks to eligible Americans, but some Democrats and Republicans have suggested putting limits on who receives payments.
Biden said he would be receptive to that.
Instead of a $ 75,000 limit for individuals, they are looking to reduce it to $ 50,000 – for couples, it would go from $ 150,000 to $ 100,000.
Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said lawmakers must “do the right thing” from a political point of view.
“It is absurd to say to the working class people, someone who has a decent job in the union – they are earning $ 55,000, $ 60,000 – sorry, you are not eligible for the program. It doesn’t make sense to me, nor do I think it makes sense to the American people, ”said Sanders (I-Vt.) On CNN’s“ State of the Union ”.
But he said he agreed to a $ 300,000 check elimination.
“When people said, we don’t want the rich to get that benefit, I understand that. I agree. And what we need to do is have a strong cliff, so that it doesn’t splash for people who earn $ 300,000. And that is what I support. And that is what I think most people understand, ”said Sanders.
His progressive colleague in the House, Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also closed the limits and said people should receive $ 2,000 stimulus checks.
“Just help people!” She said.