A (Partial) Solution for the COVID Stimulus Stalemate

Part of the reason for the deadlock on the next COVID stimulus bill is the extra $600/wk that the Democrats want to include for people who are unemployed.

The Republicans maintain that those benefits would discourage workers from going back to their jobs. “People won’t work, if they can make more money staying home,” according to their logic.

So here’s a possible solution:

Give the unemployed that $600/week right up front — $10,000 in one shot, which is the equivalent of 4 months of $600/week payments. It would already be budgeted in.

This accomplishes three things:

(1) With one $10,000 check, people can pay rent, pay bills, pay off debts, and breathe a bit easier.

(2) It kills any incentive to not return to work. And it allows for a clear-headed decision regarding the health risks of doing so.

(3) It blunts the Republicans’ argument about paying people to stay home.