Tennessee members of Congress discuss expectations for new stimulus payments
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol dome is pictured ahead of a vote on the additional funding for the coronavirus stimulus economic relief plan, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Washington, U.S., April 21, 2020. Picture taken April 21, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo
Testing on staging11
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG/News Nation) — As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the economy, lawmakers in Washington are likely to consider another round of stimulus payments this month.
Both Democrats and Republicans expect a debate over another stimulus package when Congress gets back in session.
“The second one is something that I think will occur,” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) told News Nation affiliate WREG. “I’m not sure what amount, probably $1,600, and also the question about the additional $600 a week for unemployment compensation, which also expires at the end of July.”
Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) said the stimulus payments were a “big reason the economy didn’t fall off a cliff.” But he wants more discussion on the $600 payment for those left jobless by the pandemic because he said some people make more while unemployed.
“I talked to a business owner just yesterday, and he said he’s got plenty of work and plenty of business, but he can’t do it all because he can’t get enough employees to come back to work because they’re on unemployment,” Kustoff said.
Kustoff said he and others in Congress are considering adding a back-to-work incentive “where employees could get up to $1,200 for returning, for going back to work.”
In the last round of payments, adults who made $75,000 per year or less received a $1,200 payment, with those making up to $99,000 getting a reduced amount. Some restrictions were included.