President Trump hinted that the second round of stimulus payments could be higher than the original $1200. The new GOP plan has updated the definition of “dependents” allowing many to receive an additional $500 dollars per person in their families.
During an interview in Texas yesterday, the president spoke about the second stimulus package, saying “we want to take care of people that don’t have jobs;” Noting that “we have to do it smart but we want.. [to be] very generous.” When asked by a reporter if $1200 would be enough the president responded, ” We’re going to see it may go higher than that actually.” He went on to praise the economy saying, “We just had tremendous job numbers” and “great retail sales numbers.”
The president then pointed to the stimulus package’s role in his plans for an economic rebound. “We saved millions of lives but now we’re bringing (the economy) back, we gotta take care of the people in the meantime,” he said.
These statements follow the announcement of new language in the second stimulus act, which will now include an extra $500 for “any” dependent. Financial reporter Dentisa Tsekova says would mean “parents of older high-schoolers and college students claimed as dependents would get the bonus, as well as those taking care of elderly loved ones who are dependents.” The $500 payments were originally restricted to dependents under the age of 17.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said in a press release Monday, “This unprecedented expansion of federal assistance will help millions of workers, families, patients, businesses and governments survive this historic public health and economic crisis. The American people are doing their part to combat this deadly disease and the federal government must do its part as well.”
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Ben Kolodny is a reporter at The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. Follow Ben on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
