McConnell Mulls Over Possibility of Direct Payments for Next Coronavirus Relief Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is mulling over the possibility of including a second round of direct payments to qualifying Americans amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, McConnell appeared to be open to the idea of another round of direct payments. However, he did note that the qualifications may limit payments to people making approximately “$40,000 or less.”

“I think the people that have been hit the hardest are people who make about $40,000 or less. Many of them work in the hospitality industry. …. That could well be a part of it,” McConnell said.

McConnell’s latest remarks follow his appearance at a Food Bank in Lexington, Ky. where he spoke with reporters on Monday.

When asked about the fifth coronavirus bill on Monday, McConnell offered a brief overview of lawmakers’ focus for the next relief package, according to IJR.

“If you’re looking for what I think the theme of what a next package that I’m likely to roll out here in a few weeks would focus on: liability reform, kids in school, jobs and health care, that’s where the focus, it seems to me, ought to be,” the Kentucky Republican said.

Over the last two months, Republican lawmakers have widely opposed the idea of a second round of coronavirus relief payments due to economic uncertainty. However, Democratic lawmakers have argued otherwise.

As the first direct payments were being disbursed, multiple Democratic senators, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced a bill that proposed $2,000 a month for Americans until the end of the pandemic and three months after.

Over the last four weeks, the United States has been faced with a high level of uncertainty due to the accelerated spread of the coronavirus. Many states have been forced to halt or scale back reopening.

It is unclear if the abrupt changes would also have long-term damage. However, the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, Mark Zandi, says, as some business close again and some are not able to open yet, that he “expects that fallout to be contained, resulting in no further long-term damage to the economy, but he adds there are risks of more lasting harm,” as USA Today reports.

As of Tuesday morning, there are more than 3 million known coronavirus cases in the United States.