The U.S. House of Representatives could pass a provision Monday evening that would increase the amount of money individuals and families receive in stimulus checks.
An aide to the Republican leaders tells CNN that while the Republican side is not throwing down the bill, “there is a good chance it can succeed.” It is far from certain, but assistants warn it is possible.
The bill, which would require a 2/3 majority because it will be under suspension, would increase the amount of the incentive vouchers from $ 600 to $ 2,000 per person.
Eligibility for the checks is determined by a person’s most recent tax returns. Anyone who made less than $ 75,000 as an individual, or $ 150,000 as a couple, would receive the full amount. The amount individuals receive decreases by $ 5 for every $ 100 a person earns more than $ 75,000. Basically, this means that individuals who earn more than $ 99,000 are not eligible, nor do couples earn more than $ 198,000.
If the bill actually passes the House in a strong Republican vote, it will put Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a difficult position to have to decide whether to speak in the Senate as a standalone bill.
While the president has urged Republicans to increase payments, many Republicans in McConnell’s ranks have made it clear that they do not think an increase is warranted, given how much it would raise the stimulus bill’s price tag.
A vote on the checks would likely divide the GOP conference and force some members to put up with President Trump’s wrath in his final days in office.
Reminder: The Covid-19 aid bill was passed by Congress on Monday and was flown to Mar-a-Lago on Thursday awaiting Trump’s signing. But after sitting on the sidelines during the negotiations, Trump came forward with an eleventh-hour complaint that a separate provision in the deal, which helped the president’s own White House, would only bring in up to $ 600 in direct payments.
Trump wanted to send out $ 2,000 checks.
Trump said in a statement Sunday night that he only signed the coronavirus control bill after committing to the Senate to consider legislation to increase stimulus checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000. Senate leader Mitch McConnell, however, made no reference to that commitment in his own statement Sunday night praising the president for signing the emergency bill.