- A bipartisan group of senators introduced an amendment to exclude high-income families from receiving $1,400 stimulus checks.
- The amendment does not provide a threshold for the stimulus check exclusions.
- Republicans and some Democrats have expressed support for scaling back income thresholds on stimulus payments.
- Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.
A bipartisan group of 16 senators on Thursday co-sponsored a budget amendment to exclude higher-income families from receiving $1,400 stimulus checks. The filing was part of the Senate’s so-called “vote-a-rama” where amendments are non-binding.
Led by Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the amendment does not specify a threshold for exclusion of stimulus checks. It said only that it would bar payments from “upper-income taxpayers.”
The measure passed in a 58-42 vote. Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, said he didn’t support distributing stimulus payments to six-figure households.
He added: “I absolutely want to make certain people making $75,000 or less a year do get their payments and couples making $150,000 or less a year get their payments.”
It was filed as part of the “vote-a-rama” that began Thursday afternoon, which allows for any senator to propose an amendment to a budget resolution. The resolution is expected to be approved as Democrats charge ahead with securing the passage of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package without GOP votes.
The measure underscores the ongoing debate in Congress on who should qualify for a fresh wave of $1,400 stimulus checks. Biden and White House officials say they are willing compromise on the income threshold — but not the size — of the direct payments.
“Further targeting means not the size of the check — it means the income level of people who receive the check,” Biden spokesperson Jen Psaki said at a press conference on Wednesday. “That’s something that is under discussion.”
Some Democrats are eyeing a new plan that would direct stimulus payments towards lower-income households. The proposal would only provide a full $1,400 check for individuals earning $50,000 and under. Then couples earning $100,000 and below would qualify for a full federal payment.