Stimulus Check 2 Negotiations are "productive" - so when will there be a deal?

Stimulus Check 2 Negotiations are "productive" - so when will there be a deal?

Negotiations on Stimulus Check 2 continue this week, with Senate leaders and White House officials working to pass the Republican HEALS Act, the Democratic HEROES Act, or a compromise new coronavirus relief bill by the end of the week.

If the amount of Stimulus Check 2 and the framework for eligibility for Stimulus Check 2 (among other issues such as federal unemployment benefits) are not agreed upon by Monday, August 10, Americans may have to wait until September for the second round of direct payments.

According to several members of Congress involved in the second round of stimulus negotiations, talks have been going on around the clock, but there have been mixed reports as to whether an agreement is close.

According to CNBC, after Monday night's meeting, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-N.Y.) said the talks are "productive" and that negotiators are "going down the track."

Senator Chuck Schumer (R-NY) also said after meeting with Speaker Pelosi and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that "progress has been made on certain issues and they are getting closer."

Talks on the stimulus package are expected to continue throughout the week; the CDC reports that coronavirus cases are still rising in some states.

The date for the issuance of the stimulus checks is still uncertain, but an agreement could be reached by next week if negotiations prove fruitful.

If the plan is passed, payments could be made shortly thereafter. If the plan is not passed, however, senators will resume deliberations on September 8, when the next recess ends.

The president could intervene with an executive order, but it is unclear how much influence he would have. According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration is considering "unilateral action," perhaps in the form of a payroll tax moratorium, as the debate over economic relief for the coronavirus stalls.

Even if a final package is approved, no direct payments will be made immediately. It will take time for the IRS to reset the system for sending checks to Americans. If the schedule for the first stimulus check is any indication, the first of two stimulus checks is expected to be paid a few weeks after the bill is passed.

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