One Michigan Democrat is leading the charge against her own party’s proposal to put income caps on the latest batch of stimulus check.
“If they succeed (in capping stimulus checks at $50,000 in income), it would leave millions of suffering families out of this relief bill,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13).
If they succeed, it would leave millions of suffering families out of this relief bill. https://t.co/LPsq3rdeEz
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) February 7, 2021
Tlaib was referring to the discussion among Democrats, led by the Biden administration, that Americans who made more the $50,000 in 2019 should be excluded from collecting a $1400 stimulus check for COVID-19 relief.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) also advocated against the income caps in an interview with CNN.
Biden campaigned on providing $2000 stimulus checks to every American during his campaign, following former president Donald Trump, who succeeded in giving Americans $1200 in one stimulus check, and then $600 in a second.
Tlaib also railed against the idea that deciding which Americans receive a check should be based on income from 2019, declared on one’s 2020 tax returns. Many Democrats say that defeats the purpose of the stimulus checks, which are being given to remedy the massive uptick in unemployment from the government’s 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns. Michigan was, and still is, among the strictest states in terms of COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Using 2019 income would be devastating for my district,” she said. “My residents don’t deserve this disingenuous approach. We have the tools and votes to do more. We need to stay focused on helping ALL people.”
Using 2019 income would be devastating for my district. My residents don't deserve this disingenuous approach. We have the tools and votes to do more.
We need to stay focused on helping ALL people. https://t.co/pVH8GOgld1
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) February 8, 2021
Tlaib also compared the United States’ response to the economic havoc wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic to Canada’s.
“Canada provided $2,000 ($1,477 USD)/month for up to 4 months to anyone who lost income after the pandemic hit,” she said Sunday. “And we’re over here, with a broken health care system & increased poverty, trying to limit help even more during a global public health crisis. $2,000 per month now.”
Canada provided $2,000 ($1,477 USD)/month for up to 4 months to anyone who lost income after the pandemic hit.
And we're over here, with a broken health care system & increased poverty, trying to limit help even more during a global public health crisis.
$2,000 per month now.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) February 8, 2021
For many, both the $1400 stimulus check and the income cap are seen as a betrayal on behalf of the Biden administration.
“Following the release of President-elect Joe Biden’s sweeping coronavirus relief plans, critics are saying he’s already reneged on one of his early promises to provide financially-strapped families with $2,000 stimulus checks,” CNBC reported last week.
That story pointed to a simple tweet by progressive freshman Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO-01):
“$1,400 [does not equal] $2,000,” Bush said on January 14, when Democrats first began discussing the latest stimulus package.
$1,400 ≠$2,000
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 15, 2021
This battle is one of many between the progressive wing of the Democrat Party, and the left-wing “establishment,” run by the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12).
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) is notable for her public spats with Pelosi, Ocasio-Cortez believes is not progressive enough.
Democrats control the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and the presidency.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Michigan Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rep. Rashida Tlaib” by Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
