By John Vibes | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com
(TMU) — Millions of people in the United States are now unemployed as a result of the ongoing pandemic and associated lockdowns, and the $1200 that is being sent out to some U.S. citizens as a part of the recent stimulus package can only go so far.
It is unclear when most people will be able to get back to work, and the stimulus payments were only sent out to workers who paid taxes, meaning that many people will be unable to pay for food and housing in the coming months.
A new plan proposed by two U.S. lawmakers this week in the House of Representatives calls for monthly payments of $2,000 to any U.S. citizen who is over the age of 16 and earns less than $130,000 per year.
The “Under the Emergency Money for the People Act,” would establish cash payments to a large portion of the country for at least six months. The payments are promised to continue until unemployment falls to pre-pandemic levels. The bill would also allow for payments of $500 per child for families, in addition to the $2,000 paid to adults.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Tim Ryan and Rep. Ro Khanna, and has 17 other cosponsors, all of them Democrats
“As millions of Americans file for unemployment week over week, we have to work quickly to patch the dam—and that means putting cash in the hands of hard-working families,” Ryan said in a press release.
Khanna/Ryan Livestream: Emergency Money for the People Act https://t.co/00rFzE5IpK
— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) April 14, 2020
A one-time, $1,200 check isn’t going to cut it. Americans need sustained cash infusions for the duration of this crisis in order to come out on the other side alive, healthy, and ready to get back to work,” Khanna added.
The unprecedented shut down of the economy has deepened the poverty crisis in the country, and local food banks have seen an overwhelming increase in demand as people begin to worry about where their next meals are going to come from.
The previous stimulus package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), has been criticized for giving insufficient support to low-wage earners. Some sources have even suggested that the bill was skewed to favor the wealthy.
Former U.S. Presidential candidate Andrew Yang who ran on a platform advocating Universal Basic Income (UBI) has said that a one-time payment is not enough and that people are going to need regular payments to make it through this difficult time. Yang says that the conditions experienced in the current pandemic have only strengthened the case for a UBI policy.
.@AndrewYang tells @GZEROMedia how the coronavirus crisis has made his UBI plan more urgent: "It's vital that we don't stop with one payment, because the fact is this $1,200 isn't going to last people very long." pic.twitter.com/zVxTy5p9kE
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) April 15, 2020
In Spain, officials are now seriously considering the implementation of a UBI program for the country’s poorest citizens. However, similar plans in other regions have not been accessible to the average person, especially undocumented workers and those who make a living in the informal economy.
Last Year, Italy began a very limited Universal Basic Income program, which in reality was more of an unemployment program that included some low wage workers. Unfortunately, many applications were rejected, and the qualifications excluded many of the people who needed it the most.
I don’t think people make $150,000 a year and eats it that don’t help the rich that’s $1,600 a week they get
We are working everyday to maintain our bills and kids but all we can get it 1200 and the rich getting 1.6 million wow
I smell democrats
Americans should step up, save, continue making money not the government giving it away
The government hasn’t considered the fact that millions of people won’t even use the money to better themselves it will be used for weaves Nails weed pills alcohol excetera
I am n SSSI and I hear that only poeple who filed taxe or 2019 are getting a stimulus check how is that fare to us.????
Not fair
How does that make those of us feel who are working and risking our health, but bringing home less than that after taxes?
This is a huge disincentive to conscientious workers, who are paying for this.
In California, the bonus alone, on top of the unemployment benefits is more than I’m bringing home after taxes, and now they want to also give $500 to citizens of other countries who aren’t even here legally.
Way to discourage the people who have been supporting this economy all along, and don’t be surprised when more and more give up on participating.
How is it fair to a parent not getting a stimulus check just because a child claimed them on they’re taxes not one they don’t get more then $500.00 on that parent but at the same time they’re claiming a $500.00 tax credit for they’re children and those children are getting another $500.00 stimulus and the parent gets $0 how is that fair. Yeah I think they need to revise the act on seniors being claimed by their kids I think seniors are being screwed all around.
I did a comment already I just forgot to check a box sorry.