Stimulus Check 2: White House rejects offer from Democrats

Stimulus Check 2: White House rejects offer from Democrats

Members of Congress and White House negotiators have reached a self-imposed deadline to finalize the second round of the stimulus package.

House and Senate negotiators have been working with administration officials for weeks to reach agreement on a second stimulus check and other coronavirus relief measures.

However, the White House reportedly rejected a $2 trillion stimulus proposal by Democrats as of Friday afternoon, according to Fox News. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called it a "non-starter."

While the resumption of direct benefits is almost certain, there are significant gaps in negotiations, including the continuation of federal unemployment benefits, which expired on July 31. [Indeed, CNN reports that there is little hope of reaching an agreement soon, with some aides suggesting that negotiations could drag on until September. [Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said, "We may not reach an agreement."

The Senate is scheduled to go on vacation beginning Monday, August 10. Although not technically on recess, most senators have already left Washington and returned to their hometowns, returning only when necessary for a vote.

Senate Republicans, House Democrats, and White House officials are at odds over specifics such as the total cost of the bailout and continued federal supplementation of state unemployment benefits.

House Democrats are calling for the $600 per week additional unemployment benefit to continue through the end of the year. Several Senate Republican proposals would immediately reduce the weekly benefit amount and move to lower benefits in the coming months.

CNBC reports that the White House has indicated its intention to continue unemployment benefits at $400 per week through December. Meanwhile, millions of unemployed Americans who had counted on an additional $2,400 per month in benefits to cover rent and other necessities are now without relief.

Further disagreements over federal funding for states to reopen schools and test for coronavirus and the $1 trillion (or more) gap in total costs may keep the bill on hold.

Several different proposals for sequester check 2 are on the table, but at the very least, it appears that Americans who receive only one check for $1,200 under the CARES Act will receive the same amount in a second payment.

Benefits may increase for families with dependents: the Senate's HEALS Act adds $500 per dependent, regardless of age, including college students and disabled adults. This stimulus check 2 calculator shows how much you could get under the HEALS Act.

The House's HEROES Act also extends payments to dependents, sending $1,200 per person, taxpayer and dependent alike; to find out what benefits you can get under the HEROES Act, enter your tax information into this separate stimulus check calculator.

If you are still waiting for your first stimulus payment, check the status using the IRS Get My Payment app or call the IRS stimulus check phone number.

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