Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Monday proposed monthly payments for Americans facing financial hardships because of the coronavirus crisis.
In a post on Medium.com, Cotton called for monthly payments to those in the bottom and middle-class tax brackets. He did not specify a dollar amount in the post, but Business Insider reported the figure at $1,000 per person or $4,000 for a family of four.
Cotton's office later clarified the senator had not settled on a final number.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, has suggested a one-time benefit of $1,000 to every American adult.
Cotton argues the current bill is far too complicated and, since it focuses on paid sick leave, does not benefit many people, including "those who are laid off, had their hours reduced, work in the gig economy, or who find that their employers have gone out of business."
Cotton also proposes adjusting criteria for programs like Unemployment Insurance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as well as offering low-interest loans to businesses.
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