Another round of stimulus payments may be on the horizon, but lawmakers are divided on when it will happen and what the checks might look like.
As always, the difference is about money.
"Amongst Democrats, the big disagreement is the level at which the payment stops," said Dave Peterson, political science professor at Iowa State University.
"The argument really is about who should the relief efforts be targeted at and should it be capped at a person who makes $50,000 a year and a couple that makes $100,000 or should that limit be at $75,000 (for a single person) and then a couple at $150,000 (per year)."
It remains be to be seen if all 50 Democrats in the U.S. Senate will work together, but Peterson pointed to the fact that even stalwart West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is on board.
He believes democrats will get it done and does not expect unemployment benefits to lapse as happened last year.
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"The reality of inaction would be much, much worse than whatever the position the other part of the party wants," he explained. "It would be a stunning failure if something happened like unemployment benefits actually lapsing."
When it will happen is anybody’s guess, Peterson added.
House Democrats have rejected a Republican proposal narrow eligibility for further stimulus payments and have decided to move forward with legislation to give $1,400 stimulus payments per person. The plan, announced Monday by Chairman Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat, would give stimulus checks to those earning less than $75,000 a year and married couples earning less than $150,000 -- like previous stimulus checks.
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