Progressives argue Biden's compromise on stimulus checks is 'completely deranged'
The Biden administration struck a deal with congressional moderates on Wednesday, agreeing to narrow eligibility for stimulus checks, and it's got a lot of liberals and progressives feeling somewhere between confused and outraged.
Under the deal, President Biden reportedly agreed to give the new round of $1,400 coronavirus stimulus checks a lower salary cutoff, meaning individuals earning between $80,000 to $100,000 per year won't be eligible for partial stimulus payments as they were under previous payouts. The stimulus checks are part of the administration's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan — getting moderate support for the bill is essential if Democrats want to move the package forward in the Senate as soon as Wednesday, since Republicans are united against the plan.
But the compromise struck many as the wrong move. As progressive PAC Justice Democrats spokesperson Waleed Shahid pointed out, it means there is a chunk of Americans who got payments from the Trump administration who will miss out on this round.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Slate's Jordan Weissmann put it in harsher terms, writing there is "no actual good reason" for Democrats to cave to the wishes of a tiny chunk of their party (in this case, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) pushed hardest for the change). He wrote Democrats are making "politically unpopular choice that will probably antagonize a modest but vocal number of voters without saving a substantial amount of money." The Week's Ryan Cooper made a similar point, saying "Biden is inarguably breaking his promise" to send out $2,000 checks. Rolling Stone's Jack Crosbie argued Democrats are "pathologically short-changing America," saying "at this point in the pandemic, these policies look completely deranged."
As for the Democratic Party itself, CNN's Manu Raju reports the bulk of members are "not pleased by the change but [there is] not enough concern to tank the underlying $1.9 trillion relief bill."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
'Solitude has become a notable, and worrisome, trend of our times'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Blake Lively accuses rom-com costar of smear job
Speed Read The actor accused Justin Baldoni, her director and costar on "It Ends With Us," of sexual harassment and a revenge campaign
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Germany arrests anti-Islam Saudi in SUV attack
Speed Read The attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five people dead and more than 200 wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published