A $600 per person stimulus check, included in the coronavirus package agreed on by congressional leadership after months of debate, has irked netizens who accuse lawmakers of throwing “pennies” at pandemic-weary Americans.
The $900-billion coronavirus deal was announced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday night, a compromise reached between Democrats and Republicans after nearly nine months of fruitless negotiations.
“We can finally report what our nation has needed to hear for a very long time: more help is on the way. As our citizens continue battling this coronavirus this holiday season, they will not be fighting alone,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
The full text of the deal is yet to be released, but it has already sparked indignation as well as a torrent of mockery for promising a $600 check for those earning up to $75,000 a year.
$600 is so disrespectful Congress may as well come to our houses and throw it at us in pennies to add insult to injury
“Congress makes a $130k a year & has had how many vacations in the last 8 month to agree to a measly $600? REVOLUTION ANYONE?” actor Kirk Acevedo tweeted, while another observer chastised the lawmakers for being“out of touch” with the people.
$600 dollar stimulus check?@senatemajldr@SpeakerPelosi Congress has failed Americans who needed much more!$1800 in stimulus checks for 10 months? Congress makes a $130k a year & has had how many vacations in the last 8 month to agree to a measly $600?REVOLUTION ANYONE?
“These politicians are worse than Ebenezer Scrooge. We need $2000 monthly direct cash relief,” progressive activist and podcast host Ryan Knight tweeted.
$600 checks are NOT enough. These politicians are worse than Ebenezer Scrooge. We need $2000 monthly direct cash relief.
Michigan Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib pointed out that lawmaker had no reservations when they passed the massive $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act earlier this month, which is yet to be signed by US President Donald Trump, who vowed to veto it for not repealing liability protections for social media platforms.
“Don’t be coming back with ONLY $600 per survivor check when you just passed a ~$750 billion funding bill for defense contracts… It’s shameful that you are abandoning people in need,” she tweeted.
Don’t be coming back with ONLY $600 per survivor check when you just passed a ~$750 billion funding bill for defense contracts. Yet, you all hesitate & debate whether our own people *need* a direct payment of $1,200.It’s shameful that you are abandoning people in need.
The outcry was not limited to liberals, although many Democrat supporters blamed the GOP for the hold-up. Some conservatives, including those who back the president, were up in arms as well.
“Inflation is at almost $0. People could have been given $2,000 a month. Caught up on their bills. Paid down their debt. Got ahead for once. No one in Congress… fought for this,” conservative commentator Mike Cernovich said.
Inflation is at almost $0. People could have been given $2,000 a month. Caught up on their bills. Paid down their debt. Got ahead for once. No one in Congress and fought for this.
The government giving a $600 stimulus check to millions of people who’s lives they intentionally ruined Is like giving a get well soon card to a man suffering from depression after you slept with his wife
Democratic candidate for Florida’s 3rd Congressional District Adam Christensen joked that the dissatisfaction over the bill has become an unlikely unifying factor at a time when the American public is increasingly divided.
“It’s very hard to unite everyone, but Washington seems to have to insulted everyone with this $600 pay off,” he wrote.
The news also sparked a meme-fest, with some coming up with ingenious suggestions for how to spend the money better.
When you trying to act like the 600 stimulus not enough but plan to spend it on a PS5 anyway pic.twitter.com/khDb0NREKQ
What will I spend my $600 Stimulus check on? Oh just my $516 car payment and I mean I guess the remaining $84 I’ll put toward my $320 student loan payment. Winning. pic.twitter.com/0M3E6oxRrF
How Americans feel about the $600 dollar stimulus check!! #COVIDReliefPackage#StimulusCheckspic.twitter.com/SfuMO0a89s
The bill, while already agreed on, has to jump through several legal hoops to reach Trump’s desk. The House Rules Committee is set to convene on Monday to approve the guidelines for the debate in the chambers, and the House is expected to send the draft legislation to the Senate later the same day. In the meantime, Trump signed yet another stopgap bill on Sunday night that would provide funding for the government for the next 24 hours until the relief package is passed.
Trump is unlikely to rejoice at the much-desired deal, however. The Washington Post reported on Friday that White House aides had to intervene last-minute “to prevent President Trump from issuing a statement calling for substantially larger stimulus payments for millions of Americans.” Trump, who has been calling out Congress publicly for delaying the assistance, reportedly wanted the checks to be at least $1,200, and up to $2,000, per person.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
