Americans await stimulus checks as the Senate debates Trump changes

“I got my stimulus check!” is one of the posts on Facebook this morning. United States Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said that relief checks began direct deposits at midnight on Tuesday for those that qualified for the $600 per person, $1,200 per couple, and $600 per child under the age of 17. President Trump’s push for $2,000 per person checks stalled in the Senate on Tuesday evening as $600 per person checks were being cut. 

Most Republicans in the Senate are opposed to bigger spending stating the funding isn’t going where it’s needed the most. Pushing the amount to $2,000 (more than tripling) the agreed upon  per diem will cost nearly $400 billion additional dollars. Republican Senator from Texas John Cornyn said that $4 trillion has already been spent on coronavirus aid. 

As of Tuesday evening, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed a new action linking the President’s demands for bigger checks to two other Trump priorities. One is looking to repeal tech company liability shields in “section 230” of communication law. Trump has stated that companies like Facebook and Twitter are unfair to conservatives. The second link is to the President’s desire for a 2020 presidential election review. 

The result of linking the three issues into one may likely be one of inaction when all is said and done. Leaders are concerned about the President’s veto on the defense bill that has been approved every year for the last 60 years. Further negotiations over Trump’s demands on the COVID-19 relief bill is taking away from actions on overriding the veto on the defense bill. 

As the stimulus checks are going out, there have been some changes as to who receives a check and who doesn’t. For those that receive automatic payments, the following appears on the IRS website: 

“Payments are automatic for eligible taxpayers who filed a 2019 tax return, those who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries who didn’t file a tax return. Payments are also automatic for anyone who successfully registered for the first payment online at IRS.gov using the agency’s Non-Filers tool by November 21, 2020 or who submitted a simplified tax return that has been processed by the IRS.”

College students that are still being claimed by their parents, won’t receive a second stimulus check, however, they might be able to file for relief on their 2020 federal income tax to receive an equivalent Recovery Rebate Credit. Others that don’t receive automatic direct payments or a paper check, may also be able to file a 1040 SR. For more information, click on the following link to the Treasury and IRS payments. 

In the second relief package, there’s help for individuals and businesses such as the $300 extra weekly jobless benefits through March 14, 2021. The Paycheck Protection Program of grants to businesses to keep workers on the payroll. Also, the extension on eviction protection and rental assistance funding. 

As Americans wait and see if their ‘checks in the mail’ the coronavirus rages on as holiday gatherings continue through the New Year.