Democrats eye additional relief checks for coronavirus

Democrats are keen on including additional direct payments to Americans in the next coronavirus response bill, arguing more needs to be done to provide financial stability as the pandemic ravages the economy. A number of Democratic lawmakers have offered proposals for more generous payments than the ones included in the $2 trillion measure President Trump signed into law Friday. That legislation included one-time cash payments for most Americans of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. It was the third coronavirus bill he’s signed, but lawmakers are already starting to discuss their priorities for a “phase four” measure. Some congressional observers say the prospects of additional checks will likely depend in part on how long it takes for the U.S. to contain the virus outbreak. “So much of it is uncertain because it’s driven by the trajectory of the disease,” said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, which is led by a former Obama administration official. The latest bipartisan measure signed by Trump contained several provisions aimed at helping individuals and businesses cover their expenses during the pandemic. In addition to the one-time checks, unemployment insurance received a boost and small businesses can now access forgivable loans if they retain their workers. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the coronavirus relief checks should be arriving as early as three weeks.
By then, Democrats might already be giving shape to a fourth coronavirus-relief bill...MORE