Biden's push for stimulus checks sparks income eligibility debate [View all]

[Klaralven]

President Biden’s push for more direct payments is sparking a debate over what the income thresholds should be for the stimulus checks.

Many Republicans and some centrist Democrats say any additional payments need to be more targeted toward lower-income households, arguing they are most in need of relief and are more likely to spend the money quickly, providing a boost to the economy.

On Sunday, a group of 10 GOP senators made that argument in a letter to Biden announcing their own coronavirus relief proposal, one that includes payments "for those families who need assistance the most, including their dependent children and adults." The senators are now slated to meet with Biden on Monday to discuss coronavirus relief.

Progressives, meanwhile, insist that broad eligibility would ensure the money gets out the door swiftly, while providing help to people whose income has dropped during the coronavirus-induced recession.

Biden has signaled he is open to discussing income limits for additional checks in his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The wide-ranging proposal does not specify any income eligibility requirements for new $1,400 payments.

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/536619-bidens-push-for-stimulus-checks-sparks-income-eligibility-debate

I'd think it would be more effective as a refundable tax credit on 2020 taxes. The use of income in 2019 to determine thresholds doesn't really make sense, since that doesn't take into account the effect of Covid on employment and income in 2020.