Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Ed Markey team up to propose monthly payments during pandemic

Authored by edition.cnn.com and submitted by LionRiderr
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(CNN) In response to the worsening economic crisis facing the country, Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Bernie Sanders of Vermont along with Ed Markey of Massachusetts will introduce a bill aimed at establishing a rebate payment program that would deliver $2,000 dollars to US residents including children until the Covid-19 pandemic has ended.

The bill has a tall hill to climb in the Republican-controlled senate as few GOP lawmakers have voiced support for continued monthly payments. The one-time payment of $1,200, which was what passed in the Cares Act in late March , was a sticking point at the time. In addition to being more expensive and on a recurring basis, these payments would be available to US residents no matter if they have a social security number, which includes undocumented immigrants who pay taxes but don't have a SSN.

This bill would grant married couples who file together $4,000 and $2,000 for each child up to three -- per month. It would also block debt collectors access to seize payments from individuals who owe money.

"The coronavirus pandemic has caused millions to struggle to pay the bills or feed their families," said Harris in a statement. She cited the stimulus package as important step but added it's not enough.

"Bills will continue to come in every single month during the pandemic and so should help from government. The Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act will ensure families have the resources they need to make ends meet. I am eager to continue working with Senators Sanders and Markey as we push to pass this bill immediately."

Krynnium on May 8th, 2020 at 13:51 UTC »

Although this would be an incredible financial help to people like myself, who were furloughed for the entirety of April and had to take on other work to make ends meet, I am experienced in the world enough to know that the Republicans will torpedo this thing. We're not big banks; we're not large corporations. They see the 1.2k they tossed to us as plenty because, if we're still having financial trouble after that, we're clearly lazy and should work harder. Also, we need to return to work and potentially die or further spread the disease because they need a haircut. Fuckers.

NoCoffeeNoThink on May 8th, 2020 at 13:39 UTC »

We should hold our breaths that this’ll get past the Senate and signed in without 2/3, because then we can die of suffocation before the starvation begins.

Zomgzilla on May 8th, 2020 at 13:37 UTC »

Sounds nice. Watch the centrists fall out of love with Kamala now because this would help poor people.