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In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Mitt Romney has introduced a proposal to send $1000 to every American adult as a way to help increase spending and provide a boost to the economy.
Similar to actions that George W. Bush took back in 2008, economists are urging Congress to send checks as the virus continues to spread and businesses are starting to shut down.
The plan that Romney rolled out includes a one-time, $1000 check to every adult in America. This is in hopes that the checks would encourage spending when the economy needs it the most.
Romney applauded the current House coronavirus response package. But he wants to seek further action to “build on this legislation with additional action to help families and small businesses meet their short-term financial obligations.”
He continued,
“While expansions of paid leave, unemployment insurance, and SNAP benefits are crucial, the check will help fill the gaps for Americans that may not quickly navigate different government options.”
The plan also calls for an increase to Pell Grant amounts awarded to students to help ease their financial burdens as a result of the coronavirus and to defer student loans.
The Bush administration included extra money for people who have children in 2008. They sent $1,200 for couples, with an additional $300 for each child and $600 checks to individual tax filers.
Romney’s plan doesn’t have those same extras at the time of writing.
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Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has announced that the city will provide $800 vouchers to more than 6000 families for any Safeway store in the state, according to a statement issued from the Mayor’s office.
“We know that working families in Seattle are already struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools and child care facilities close, we need to do everything we can to support families and ensure they can put food on the table,” said Mayor Durkan.
“Our city has been working on many new unprecedented efforts as it relates to housing assistance, meals, and small businesses, but we know it is not enough for the families struggling.”
She continued, “Ultimately, we will need an unprecedented relief package from Congress to address the long-term consequences for working people who are already feeling the impact of this global pandemic.”
Recipients of the vouchers will be allowed to buy food and household goods, but cannot purchase alcohol, lottery tickets, tobacco or fuel. Free Safeway memberships are also being offered at any Safeway location.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned on Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak is spreading faster than initially predicted. He said that the spread of the virus across the capital is “a few weeks ahead” of the rest of the country.
“I was told by the government and the government’s advisers, that London is a few weeks ahead of the rest of the country and the way that this virus is spreading is faster than the government and advisers had thought,” Khan said during an interview with Good Morning Britain.
“We can understand why London is further ahead than the rest of the country, because of our connectivity, our global travel, our density.”
“I think the advice given by the government now is the right advice… we’ve got to take sensible steps to avoid the virus spreading faster,” said the mayor.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also urged the public to take sensible steps, saying, “Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel. We need people to start working from home where they possibly can and you should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues.”
At the time of writing, the United States has experienced 93 deaths with 4743 cases overall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
4,407 of those cases were detected, confirmed and tested in the U.S., while 70 of the cases are repatriated citizens, such as those who were evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and from China.
The only state that hasn’t yet reported a case is West Virginia, while the states that have been hit the hardest include New York, Washington, and California.
Online searches for flu symptom relief have been trending, as people need to know if what they have is something more than just the common cold.
