As we near the end of the year, the issue of stimulus checks has once again been raised by groups in the legislature, but they’ve been severely reduced.
Americans have waited months for any new progress on a stimulus bill and have been met with gridlock. Most have been holding their breath waiting on a repeat of the $1,200 direct payment to citizens, however partisan fighting had continued to shoot down hopes of that happening.
In the eleventh hour, and as the year comes to an end, we seemingly have progress on both a stimulus bill and a direct payment to citizens, but it may be much lower than most hoped. On Monday, December 21st congress passed a $900 billion stimulus bill including a $600 direct payment. The bill includes measures to extend disability benefits as well as a $300 bump for unemployment benefits. It also included funds for 500 thousand new Pell grants.
Strange inclusions in the Bill
Some have been quick to criticize the stimulus bill for not going far enough on direct payments to Americans, but others have noticed other strange occurrences in the bill. For one, included is a provision that aims to punish those who make money while streaming copyright infringed materials. This is the CASE act, which was shot down earlier this year in the legislature but worked its way into the 5,000+ page bill apparently spearheaded by Thom Tillis.
Many fear that the inclusion of the previously failed bill will affect regular internet users. The CASE act aimed to create felony charges out of copyright violations, and according to CNN Business those could come with up to ten years of jail time.
Another peculiar inclusion in the COVID-19 Relief bill is called the “Three-martini lunch” tax break. This inclusion changes the status quo of being able to write off 50% of a business meal to 100% of the meal’s cost.
Bernie Sanders commented on the inclusion of the “Three-martini lunch” inclusion:
What The President has to Say
Though Trump has been more or less quiet on social media about the stimulus debacle, he was quick to retweet a quote of one of his supporters claiming that the inclusion of a direct stimulus check was due to his own efforts.
What President-Elect Biden has to Say
After receiving his Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, Biden made it clear that he was in support of a third round of stimulus payments, but that the exact dollar amount would be left up to negotiation.
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