Millions sign petitions calling for monthly $2,000 stimulus checks for adults and $1,000 for kids until pandemic ends
MILLIONS of Americans have signed petitions calling on Joe Biden to introduce monthly stimulus checks worth up to $2,000 for adults and $1,000 for children until the Covid-19 pandemic ends.
Payments totaling more than $2billion hit bank accounts nationwide last week as the IRS sent out a further 1.1million checks as part of the coronavirus relief package.
The Change.org petition pushing for more Covid relief money was started last year by restaurant owner Stephanie Bonin.
Bonin, of Denver, wrote: “I’m calling on Congress to support families with a $2,000 payment for adults and a $1,000 payment for kids immediately, and continuing regular checks for the duration of the crisis.”
She continued: “Congress needs to make sure that we won’t be financially ruined for doing our part to keep the country healthy.”
The petition has recently surpassed two million signatures and is continuing to grow quickly.
If it reaches three million signatures, it will become one of the most signed petitions on the platform.
Over 54,000 people signed another petition calling for recurring stimulus checks.
And, more than 40,000 people have signed a petition calling on Biden to introduce immediate $2,000 payments.
But cash support from the White House appears to be drying up.
Payments sent earlier this month were the smallest since the third rollout began on March 12, casting doubt on whether the Biden administration will be able to help cash-strapped Americans.
Some lawmakers are backing the bid for increased monthly checks with at least 75 members of Congress wanting to provide the cash.
In January, Representative Ilhan Omar and 55 other Democrats sent a letter to Biden urging for him to support ongoing stimulus checks.
However, the president appears reluctant to back recurring payments, and there are not enough members of Congress that would vote to pass such a bill.
But, Congress could still vote to add additional stimulus checks into any upcoming legislation, such as the infrastructure package.
A January study from Data for Progress found the proposal is also popular with the American people, with 65 percent of those surveyed expressing support for recurring monthly $2,000 payments.
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In another letter sent to President Biden on March 2, 11 Democratic senators including Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders pushed for recurring monthly payments.
The letter cited an Urban Institute study that concluded just one additional $1,200 check, along with additional unemployment insurance, could keep 12 million Americans above the poverty line.
According to Newsweek, online searches for “Biden fourth stimulus” and related terms skyrocketed by 250 percent during the president’s address to Congress marking his 100th day in office.