TOPLINE
Asked whether the government will send Americans another stimulus check in an interview Monday with Scripps Washington correspondent Joe St. George, President Trump said, “Yeah, we are,” and indicated that another bipartisan stimulus bill is on the way, but did not elaborate further on the possibility of another round of direct payments to Americans.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures during an East Room event at the White House June 17, 2020 in … [+]
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KEY FACTS
“We will be doing another stimulus package, it will be very good, very generous,” Trump said.
It’s unclear whether Trump’s affirmation means another round of checks could be on the way, or whether his administration is considering additional stimulus legislation that wouldn’t include checks; when asked for clarification, the White House press office responded by sending a transcript of the interview.
President Trump has signaled his openness to the idea of more checks before, as has the White House, though he has been more enthusiastic about the prospect of a payroll tax cut to prop up the labor market instead.
Republican lawmakers, wary of additional government spending after the $2.2 trillion CARES Act (the bill that authorized the first round of economic impact payments), have been reluctant to support another round of checks.
When asked how much the next stimulus package will be worth, Trump said, “you’ll find out;” he also said he expects more details about the package to be announced “over the next couple of weeks.”
Key background
With CARES Act protections set to run out next month and coronavirus cases spiking in nearly half of states, White House officials and Republican negotiators have decided they won’t hold negotiations on the next round of stimulus legislation until after Congress returns from recess at the end of July. May’s better-than-expected jobs numbers may have thrown a wrench in the process, with some lawmakers, including President Trump, taking the surprising good news as a sign that the economy is already on the road to recovery. The $3 trillion Heroes Act—a massive piece of economic rescue legislation proposed by House Democrats last month—includes a provision for another round of checks, though Senate Republicans have said that bill is “DOA” in its current form.
Further reading
White House Could Support More Stimulus Checks, Report Says (Forbes)
Here’s How Likely You Really Are To Get Another $1,200 Stimulus Check (Forbes)
Half Of Americans Received Stimulus Checks As Economy Stumbles And Unemployment Hits Record Highs (Forbes)
Lawmakers Are Bitterly Divided Over How To Get More Stimulus Cash To Americans (Forbes)