Trump Admin Wants Emergency UBI: 'We're Looking at Sending Checks to Americans Immediately'

Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Mar. 17, 2020

The Trump administration is pushing an emergency (non)universal basic income for "American workers" in "the next two weeks" and are planning to release the details soon.

Mnuchin indicated it would not apply to people making "$1 million a year."

From CNBC:

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that the Trump administration wants to get emergency funds in Americans' pockets "immediately" amid the coronavirus crisis.

"Americans need cash now," Mnuchin said during a White House press briefing on the administration's latest efforts to combat the disease. "I mean now in the next two weeks."

"The president has instructed me that we have to do this now," Mnuchin added.

I like this idea a lot better than sending trillions to the banks but we'll have to see the specifics.

It seems like they want to do both (the Federal Reserve already handed out some $1.5 trillion in sort-term loans to the banks and cut rates to zero).

I would prefer they nationalize the banks and distribute their money to the people but I'd say this is at least the camel's nose getting under the tent.

Part of what made Andrew Yang's $1,000 a month UBI great was the way it shared the welfare bounty with Middle America rather than just Democrats who are already getting $1,000 a month or more from the state.

Considering how Republicans operate, I'm anticipating they'll find a way to "means test" it to exclude their own voting base.

Regardless, kudos to Andrew Yang and the Yang Gang for meming UBI into a reality.

My phone is blowing up.
— Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) March 17, 2020

My statement on the discussed stimulus package. My team has been in touch with the White House and we are offering resources. pic.twitter.com/Bi58oq7Q9V
— Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) March 17, 2020

MAXIMUM HEADPHONE WARNING:

The Fed trying to print enough money to stop the economic collapse pic.twitter.com/ObnPpSA4P0
— no koof kanna (@Crisprtek) March 16, 2020

MAXIMUM HEADPHONE WARNING:

Forget what I said earlier and take this pic.twitter.com/uwS6PoZP1c
— pine-kun (@senpinecone) March 17, 2020

UPDATE:

My relief plan uses tax-rebate checks and expanded eligibility for federal assistance programs to put cash in the hands of low- and middle-income Americans.

It also extends cash to struggling businesses through low interest loans.

Read more here: https://t.co/gNg40uV4XW pic.twitter.com/9FhQ5YBZCv
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 17, 2020

UPDATE II: The race is on!

Right-wing Republican Mitt Romney proposed giving $1,000 to every US adult to deal with the coronavirus crisis

Neoliberal Democrat/Cop Kamala Harris proposed giving *up to $500 per family*

These Dems are *to the right* of right-wing Republicans. Pitiful.https://t.co/2eE4IWa0ry
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) March 17, 2020

I am introducing a bill this week to give:

$1,000 to every American adult.
$500 for every child.

No exceptions.

We need to support the American people NOW—and this is just a start.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 17, 2020

I’m introducing an immediate economic relief plan for every American.

—$4k to every adult who makes under 100k per year
—$2k to every adult who makes over 100k per year
—$1k for every child 18 or younger

We need to ensure every family has the funds to survive at this moment.
— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) March 17, 2020

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