House Speaker Nancy Pelosi mentioned the possibility of a guaranteed minimum income as part of a potential Phase 4 response to the coronavirus crisis — an idea being pushed by left-wing members of the Democratic Party such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, Fox News informed.
“Let’s see what works, what is operational, and what needs other attention? Others have suggested a minimum income, a guaranteed income for people. Is that worthy of attention now? Perhaps so,” she said on MSNBC on Monday.
Pelosi’s comments come amid a discussion about the next stage of the stimulus package, which Pelosi has termed “CARES 2,” to boost the economy and provide relief to businesses and families. Democrats have already said the package should include at least $500 billion in aid to state and local governments.
A minimum guaranteed income is an idea that was popularized by former 2020 hopeful Andrew Yang. Calls for it have increased amid the economic downturn connected to the coronavirus pandemic, with left-wing lawmakers calling to make the one-off stimulus payments (of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child) bigger and a monthly feature.
Ocasio-Cortez has called for $2,000 in monthly payments to all families, regardless of immigration status, and $1,000 per child. She was joined by Progressive Caucus leaders and fellow Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, and “squad members” Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and activists in demanding an even costlier version of the economic stimulus.
Sanders, who was a contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nod, also pushed bigger and more regular stimulus checks until the crisis passes.
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