In the latest development on the COVID-19 relief bill now in the hands of the Senate, Democrats reached a deal with President Biden to limit the eligibility of the stimulus checks in the $1.9 trillion package.
The tweak is the goal of moderate Democrats who did not want the $1,400 checks to go to wealthier Americans.
The stimulus checks would start to phase out at $75,000 and phase out entirely at $80,000 of income for individuals, as opposed to about $100,000 in the version of the legislation passed by the House last week. Joint filers would have their checks phase out starting at $150,000 and entirely at $160,000.
The House version of the bill had cut off incomes at $200,000 for couples and $100,000 for individuals.
The deal also keeps federal unemployment benefits at $400 per week through the end of August.
This compromise clears the way for the Senate to move forward, and they could take a procedural vote to begin debate on the bill as soon as Wednesday evening. The bill could pass the full Senate by the end of the week.
From CNN and Detroit Free Press