WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — As Senate Democrats push for $2,000-a-month stimulus checks during the pandemic, President Donald Trump said he and his administration are "talking about that."
Trump on Monday was asked about the Democrats' proposal to send a second round of coronavirus stimulus payments to Americans.
"We're talking about that with a number of different people," the president said. "I want to see a payroll tax cut. I want to see various things, but we're talking about that. We're negotiating with the Democrats. We'll see what happens."
Through the CARES Act, a $2 trillion economic relief package, the federal government has already sent millions of Americans $1,200 stimulus checks.
On May 8, Senators Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ed Markley (D-Mass.) unveiled their Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act. Under the proposal, Americans would receive $2,000 a month until the pandemic ends.
Americans making less than $120,000 a year would get the monthly $2,000 check. Married couples would get $4,000 and an extra $2,000 for up to three children.
Harris and Sanders said the one-time $1,2000 checks from the CARES Act were not enough for many Americans to pay rent, bills and buy essentials.
"Bills will continue to come in every single month during the pandemic and so should help from the government," Harris said in a statement.
Another $2,000 a month proposal was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
Under that proposal, every American 16 and older making less than $130,000 a year would get at least $2,000 a month. Married couples making less than $260,000 would get $4,000 a month and families with children would get $500 per child per month up to three kids.
And, those who are unemployed would be eligible.
Other proposals for mother stimulus plans include Democrats calling for rent and mortgage payments to be canceled nationwide and for a $100 billion fund to be established for emergency rent relief.
Trump has also called for Social Security payroll tax cuts as a way to boost the economy. Under the current phase of the relief package, employers got a payroll tax cut, but the president said he's working to also have employees covered by that tax cut in the next phase.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) also proposed giving front line workers an additional $12 per hour of pay for three months.
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