REPUBLICAN Senator Josh Hawley says he would “gladly work together” with Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to push through $1,200 checks to help struggling Americans. The payouts, included in a first round of Covid-19 relief earlier this year, have become a sticking point in tense talks on a second bill. After months of stalemate, Congress is […]
REPUBLICAN Senator Josh Hawley says he would “gladly work together” with Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to push through $1,200 checks to help struggling Americans.
The payouts, included in a first round of Covid-19 relief earlier this year, have become a sticking point in tense talks on a second bill.
After months of stalemate, Congress is moving towards a $908 billion stimulus bill which excludes $1,200 direct payments to every American.
But this is a potential obstacle to a deal for more progressive lawmakers, such as Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Ocasio-Cortez told NBC News’ Garrett Haake: “If people don’t get UI [Unemployment Insurance] assistance, and if they don’t get a stimulus check, then relief isn’t going to be felt in their lives, not in a substantive way.
“So will I support resources to hospitals and schools and firefighters? Absolutely. But I am extremely concerned that it’s not going to solve the immediate problems that people have.”
Hawley, who represents Missouri, later tweeted: “I will gladly work w/ @AOC and anyone else who wants to help working families.
“Families and working people in need should be the FIRST consideration in COVID relief, not last.”
Families and working people in need should be the FIRST consideration in COVID relief, not last
Republican Senator Josh Hawley
Hawley is one of the few GOP lawmakers who support stimulus checks, which were last sent out in March to people earning below a certain amount of money.
Other Republicans have dubbed the strategy as a “socialist” or “radical” idea from the Democrats.
But Donald Trump capitalized on the original proposal, making sure he had his name on the checks.
Yet, the window of opportunity to pass legislation for new economic relief to millions of Americans is rapidly coming to a close.
Unemployment benefits stemming from the pandemic are set to expire the day after Christmas.
Meanwhile moratoriums on evictions and student loan payments expire at the end of the year.
Ocasio-Cortez said: “If you’re on the brink of an eviction or if you’re behind on six months of bills, you need that check … and state and local funding isn’t going to help you.”
Even though she has been pushing for a much larger relief bill before the November 3 election, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she was willing to settle for a pared-down version to be passed.
The Democrats are gunning for a bigger relief package after January 20, when President-elect Joe Biden takes power.
Biden has called for “urgent” stimulus to avoid “scarring American workforce” after “grim” jobs report.
He made the comments while speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware yesterday.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday the US economy added 245,000 jobs in November.
This figure saw a minute change in the unemployment rate, bringing it down by just 0.2 percent from October.
