The idea of giving out fatter checks is supported by the Democrat-controlled House, but is likely to be ignored by the Republican-led Senate, where the spending is opposed. “Therefore, a family of four would receive $5,200,” the president said about the increase, which would require Republican approval. In his statement, Trump said Congress on Monday would vote on a separate bill to “increase payments to individuals from $600 to $2,000.” But the legislative package also includes measures unrelated to the pandemic, such as creating new criminal penalties including prison time for violating copyright laws with online streaming. It includes protections against evictions and money for COVID-19 vaccine distribution and cash-strapped transit systems. The bill also creates a new $300 weekly unemployment supplement and replenishes a forgivable loan program for small businesses. There’s an additional $600-per-child stimulus payment. The amount decreases for higher earners, and people who make over $95,000 get nothing. The bill authorizes direct checks of $600 for people earning up to $75,000 per year. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed. While the president insisted he would send Congress “a redlined version” with items to be removed under the rescission process, those are merely suggestions to Congress.

“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said. In a statement Sunday night, the president said he would ask for millions of dollars in spending to be removed from the bill. Trump signed it several days after saying the legislation was a “disgrace” and calling on Congress to up the relief payments to $2,000 and scale back spending. The nearly 5,600-page bill passed the House and Senate by overwhelming margins Monday night, just hours after its text was released. President Trump on Sunday signed a $2.3 trillion COVID-19 relief and government funding bill that includes $600 stimulus checks for most Americans, after refusing to accept the deal for days.

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Corona stimulus