Progressives Score Victory In Push Against Lowering Stimulus Check Eligibility

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) prepares to wait tables at the Queensboro Restaurant, May 31, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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The House is moving forward with a COVID-19 relief package without lowering the income threshold of eligibility for the $1,400 direct checks, which had been a large point of disagreement between moderate Democrats and progressives.

Under the new plan unveiled by Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-MA) on Monday night, individuals who make up to $75,000 a year would be eligible for the full payments, keeping threshold of the two previous payments under the Trump administration.

Additionally, couples filing together who make up to $150,000 would still be eligible for payments before the phaseout stage.

The move marks a victory for progressives as moderate Democrats had proposed lowering the cap to $50,000 for individual filers and $100,000 for couples before the amounts per payment begin to phase out.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) blasted the proposals to lower the thresholds on Saturday.

“It would be outrageous if we ran on giving more relief and ended up doing the opposite,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

“In other words, working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!” Sanders tweeted.

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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for massie massie says:

    Excellent! I was worried about this one, so glad they’ve managed to stand firm and keep it in there.

  2. Every time the word “progressive” is used they slap a picture of AOC over the headline. It was Pramila Jayapal that did the most heavy lifting to make this happen, yet I guess it doesn’t generate the number of clicks.

  3. I’m glad they did this. People need it. For those that don’t, donate it.

  4. … To the @castor_troy beer fund.

    The absolute most efficient use of donations, as 100% of proceeds actually go to the intended cause, unlike most “charities”, where the bosses use revenue as a personal slush fund and to give themselves lavish paychecks.

  5. Avatar for noonm noonm says:

    I will refrain from celebrating until we see the bill language in the Senate. Hopefully, Sander’s argument will get through to the moderate Dems there too.

    “In other words, working class people who got checks from Trump would not get them from Biden. Brilliant!” Sanders tweeted.

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