In a push to keep moderate Dems on board with his coronavirus relief package, President Biden has agreed to a plan to change eligibility for stimulus payments, according to numerous reports.
The payments would stay at the $1,400 level, the thresholds would also remain the same, but caps would fall. Because of this, more Americans would be removed from the list of people who will receive a check.
In the new proposal, individuals making over $80,000 would not qualify. That’s lower from the earlier $100,000 cap. And married couples would be also be cut off at $160,000, which is down from $200,000. The thresholds for lowered payments would stay at $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married filers.
Some moderate Democrats, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), have wanted the bill to be more tightly focused on those hurt most by coronavirus.
It is not yet certain how much these changes will reduce the costs of the program. The House version was expected to spend $1.9 trillion.
With the GOP seemingly united against the proposal, Democrats require all 50 of their Senators to support the bill if they are to have hope of passing it.
