Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has called for a separate vote to take place on Monday to settle the political dispute over the size of direct checks to Americans.
Politicians in the U.S. still have not finalized the second major stimulus measure that's been in the works since May.
What Happened: Though a week ago congressional lawmakers agreed on the $900 billion in aid and the next day passed it, U.S. President Donald Trump has not signed it. Emergency unemployment benefits for 14 million people, put in place in the first pandemic aid package passed in March, expired over the weekend.
See also: How to Invest Your $1,400 Stimulus Check
Debate over the funding has led to an unusual situation where Democrats and Trump are on the same side, calling for direct checks to Americans of $2,000, while Republicans want to stick to the $600 checks already agreed to in the aid package.
The package also covers forgivable loans for small businesses, eviction protections for renters and funding for vaccine distribution.
The $900 billion package is attached to a $1.4 trillion government spending bill. The government faces the threat of shutdown if it is not passed — part of the more run-of-the-mill brinksmanship that lawmakers have engaged in since pre-pandemic times.
What's Next: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has pushed for a separate vote on Monday over the direct checks for individuals, while lawmakers from both parties urge Trump to sign the bill passed last week.
Source Image: Wikimedia Commons by Gage Skidmore
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
