President Biden said during a phone call with House Democrats on Wednesday that he is committed to boosting stimulus checks to $ 2,000 by giving most Americans an additional $ 1,400 in direct payments in another round of coronavirus aid.
However, Biden opened the door to tighten up income requirements to determine which Americans are eligible for the checks. Under the aid package passed by Congress late last year, individuals who earned less than $ 75,000 and couples who earned less than $ 150,000 received the full payment of $ 600.
“We can’t walk away from an extra $ 1,400 in direct checks we’ve proposed because people need them,” Biden told Democrats, according to a source on the call.
“We better target them,” he said, “but I’m not going to start my government by breaking a promise to the American people.”
Biden took no questions during the five-minute talk, but he urged House Democrats to get “big, not small” with a new COVID-19 aid package and stick together as they kick off his nearly $ 2 trillion stimulus plan. to the American people.
‘I will support you. I ask if you have mine, ”Biden said.
– Updated at 11:00 am