More Stimulus Checks On the Way? Biden Might Surprise Us Wednesday

More Stimulus Checks On the Way? Biden Might Surprise Us Wednesday

The president is expected to pay for the American Family Plan by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, which makes it unlikely that the bill will gain any Republican support.

President Biden is set to address a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, for his first time as president. It is not a State of the Union address, but rather a message by the president to Congress, at this point to commemorate the end of the president’s first 100 days in office.

Per Motley Fool, the president is expected to "outline his ambitious plans designed to rebuild crumbling infrastructure, boost the economy, and offer more significant financial support to American families.”

It’s not clear exactly what Biden will propose when he speaks to Congress, in an address that will be broadcast on national television.

Yahoo Finance wrote that Biden's speech will “offer clues” as to what’s coming next.

“Is the president open to the idea of a fourth stimulus check, and possibly more after that? He may give an indication during a major address to Congress and the nation Wednesday night.”

Biden is expected to lay out details of the American Family Plan, a  $1.8 trillion piece of legislation that is expected to address education, child care and paid family leave. That legislation is also likely to include an extension of the child tax credit, through 2025.

The president is expected to pay for the American Family Plan by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, which makes it unlikely that the bill will gain any Republican support.

Will Biden announce additional stimulus checks on Wednesday night? That appears unlikely. There have been some pushes, especially among a group of Democratic senators, for the Biden Administration to go for another round of checks, but it doesn’t appear that Biden is pursuing such a course of action, at least in the short term.

“We urge you to include recurring direct payments and automatic unemployment insurance extensions tied to economic conditions in your Build Back Better long-term economic plan,” the March letter from the senators, who included Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, said.

“This crisis is far from over, and families deserve certainty that they can put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Families should not be at the mercy of constantly shifting legislative timelines and ad hoc solutions.”

When Biden first announced his plan for infrastructure earlier this month, he did not mention any plan for additional checks, and the administration does eventually pursue such checks, it likely won’t be in the short term.

Those who have not received their $1,400 stimulus check from the American Rescue Plan are advised to go to the IRS’ Check Your Payment tool, which will provide information about where the payment and exactly when to expect it.

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.