A bipartisan group of senators balked at the size of President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal during a call with White House officials on Sunday, raising concerns that the measure provides too much money to high-income Americans.
Biden is pushing for a massive plan that includes $20 billion to accelerate vaccine distribution, a $15-an-hour minimum wage increase, an extension of supplemental unemployment benefits through the end of September, a one-time $1,400 stimulus check, a temporary expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit and $350 billion in new funding for state and local governments.
While the lawmakers largely agreed the top priority should be producing and distributing vaccines, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, some pushed back against the $1,400 stimulus payments and pressed the White House to make them more targeted to individuals in greater need.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, questioned the Biden officials why families making $300,000 would be eligible to receive the cash payment and suggested the relief focus on lower-income workers.
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11.25.2024