The United States might see another round of stimulus checks after the Democrats flipped the majority in the U.S. Senate Wednesday.
State of play:
Two Democrat victories in Georgia had a big impact on the Senate. The two wins create a 50-50 split in the Senate, giving the Democrats the edge once Vice President-elect Kamala Harris takes up her position.
- Democrat Jon Ossoff won election to the Senate from Georgia, defeating incumbent Sen. David Perdue, according to The Associated Press.
- Democrat Raphael Warnock was projected to win election to the Senate early Wednesday morning, defeating GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
New checks?
Ed Mills, an analyst with investment bank Raymond James, said he expects the Democrats to pursue another stimulus bill — one centered around another round of direct payments to Americans, according to CBS News.
- “We expect growing anticipation that Democrats will pursue additional stimulus, with a $2,000 check (or at least the remaining $1,400) as a leading item,” Mills said.
President-elect Joe Biden said the recent COVID-19 relief package — which sent $600 checks to Americans who meant an income threshold — was a “down payment” on a bigger package that will come when he takes office.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who will become the majority leader once the new senators are sworn in, said the Senate will make $2,000 stimulus checks a priority once he takes office, according to Axios.
- “One of the first things that I want to do when our new senators are seated is delivering the $2,000 checks to the American families,” he said Wednesday.