Trump Administration Warming to Prospect of Second TrumpBux Payment
Richard Moorhead
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President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that he supports a second round of direct ‘TrumpBux’ payments to individuals, a stimulus measure first utilized in March to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus recession. Most U.S. taxpayers have already received a $1,200 payment from the federal government as part of the CARES Act.
When asked about the prospect of another round of payments, the President said “I think we’re going to be helping people out” and “getting some money for them.” The fourth round of coronavirus economic stimulus legislation is likely to be the last, if it’s even enacted at all, and the President said that he supports “one more nice shot” to stimulate the economy.
Senior Trump administration officials such as Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and economic advisor Kevin Hassett signaling their support for the proposal, with the former stating that he sees a “strong likelihood” the national economy will require an additional supplement of the form of stimulus.
The Trump administration appeared to be initially considering a round of payroll tax cuts as an alternative to another TrumpBux, with some questioning how such a policy would benefit the millions of Americans in industries such as the energy sector who have lost their paychecks as a result of the recession.
Congressional Democrats have attempted to ram through a sham stimulus 4.0 package filled with a progressive policy wishlist, including a provision that would grant amnesty to several million illegal immigrants. Senate Republicans and the White House essentially confirmed that the legislation was dead on arrival after passing the house.
However, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell has accepted the concept of a fourth stimulus package after raising fiscal concerns, making it likely that House Democrats will concede enough to pass a politically acceptable bill through the House. It’s possible that the parties will battle over the notion of bailing out state governments, with Republicans preferring to use resources providing payments to individuals.
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