The bipartisan $908 billion COVID-19 stimulus plan doesn't include new $1,200 checks for Americans, and senators say the checks can be agreed to only after Biden takes office
- Senators said over the weekend that another round of stimulus checks could be handed out only after President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January and negotiates more relief.
- A $908 billion package gaining bipartisan support does not include $1,200 stimulus checks.
- Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Biden's team could "put together a different proposal that takes us further down the road for more recovery."
- Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said the latest funding package "is not a stimulus bill, it's a relief bill," adding, "There may be a stimulus check, but that would be part of a different piece of legislation."
A second round of stimulus checks could be handed out to Americans only after President-elect Joe Biden takes office next year and negotiates extra relief, senators said.
Congressional Democratic leaders have backed a $908 billion stimulus proposal, but the package doesn't include $1,200 direct payments.
Stimulus checks were sent to more than 160 million Americans this year to help them through the coronavirus crisis.
Excluding the checks from the package was the only way to reach an agreement with Republicans, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin told The Associated Press on Sunday.
"The $1,200 check, it cost we believe nationally $300 billion to give you an idea," Durbin said. "The Democrats have always wanted a larger number, but we were told we couldn't get anything through the Republicans, except this $900 billion level."
Biden said on Friday that "it would be better" if the stimulus package included direct payments for Americans.
Following Biden's comments, senators said that stimulus checks could be part of more financial relief introduced after Biden becomes president on January 20.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the proposed stimulus deal would be a lifeline for people and businesses that need urgent aid until Biden takes over.
Manchin said Biden's team could "put together a different proposal that takes us further down the road for more recovery."
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner echoed Manchin's comment. "Those who want the direct stimulus checks, that will be something that a President-elect Biden will grapple with," he said on CNN's "State of the Union."
Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy told Fox News on Sunday that the bill should not include $1,200 direct payments to Americans.
"This is not a stimulus bill, it's a relief bill," Cassidy said, adding, "There may be a stimulus check, but that would be part of a different piece of legislation."
In November, more than 125 economists signed a letter urging Congress to send a second round of stimulus checks to Americans. They said the checks were an "essential tool" for keeping millions of families out of poverty during the pandemic.
Signatories included Jason Furman, President Barack Obama's top economic advisor, Claudia Sahm, a former Federal Reserve economist, and Alan Blinder, a former Fed vice chairman.