WASHINGTON — As the federal government continues to carry out a historic stimulus program that provides payments of up to $1,200 for most Americans, some lawmakers are already proposing further stimulus packages.
According to reports by CNET and FOX Business, the proposals include payroll tax cuts, monthly or quarterly payouts and one-year mortgage/rent cancellations.
The Emergency Money for the People Act, introduced by Rep. Ro Kanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), would provide up to $2,000 in monthly income for single taxpayers and $4,000 for married couples filing jointly for up to one year, the FOX Business report said.
Last week, Senators Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) introduced the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act, which would provide $2,000 monthly payments per person until three months after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) proposed a different type of stimulus to make it easier for American businesses to keep their employees and reopen more quickly. The Getting America Back to Work Act would allow employers to receive a refundable payroll tax rebate to cover up to 80 percent of its payroll costs for the duration of the pandemic emergency, "until businesses are able to reopen."
Ilhan OMa (D-Minn.) introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, which would allow rent and mortgage payments to be legally canceled for one year with affecting a person's credit score. The proposal would create a fund to reimburse landlords and mortgage holders to cover their losses.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has also proposed pay bonuses for essential workers, such as those who work in the healthcare and food service industries.
