“Conservative Dems have fought so the Biden admin sends fewer & less generous relief checks than the Trump admin did,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter. “It’s a move that makes little-to-no political or economic sense, and targets an element of relief that is most tangibly felt by everyday people. An own-goal.”
The package will deliver $1,400 checks to qualifying households.
Individuals making $75,000 or less will be eligible for the full stimulus check, which is higher than the $600 and $1,200 direct payments in the two previous pandemic relief measures that included them.
The changes would cut off eligibility at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for couples. Previously, checks gradually phased out for individuals making up to $100,000 and couples earning up to $200,000.
House passes Biden aid with $1,400 checks; focus moves to Senate crainsnewyork.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from crainsnewyork.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The U.S. House passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief plan, spanning $1,400 stimulus checks, enhanced jobless benefits and fresh funding for vaccines and testing. Also included: a minimum-wage measure with no prospects of passing in the Senate.
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The pandemic resulted in millions of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the first time in 2020. Relief legislation enacted last year created several federal unemployment programs.
Unemployment compensation is subject to federal income taxes, but many Americans were unaware of this when they received benefits. As a result, people may be surprised when they file their 2020 tax returns this year that they owe money to the IRS or are entitled to smaller refunds than they expected.
The relief package that the House is considering this week extends federal unemployment programs, but it doesn t exempt any unemployment benefits from taxes. The Democratic lawmakers who wrote the letter are sponsors of a bill that would exempt the first $10,200 in unemployment insurance (UI) received last year from federal income taxes, and they want their measure to be included in a manager s amendment to the relief package.
GOP highlights unspent relief funds in criticizing Biden plan thehill.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thehill.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.