Topline
President Joe Biden’s name will not appear on the $1,400 stimulus checks that will be authorized by the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the White House said Tuesday, in a sharp break with former President Donald Trump, who wanted his name to appear on the first round of stimulus checks last year even though the president is not legally authorized to sign them.
President Joe Biden speaks from the State Dining Room following the passage of the American Rescue … [+]
Key Facts
“We are doing everything in our power to expedite the payments and not delay them, which is why the president’s name will not appear on the memo line of this round of checks,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday.
Instead, the checks will be signed by an official from the Bureau of Fiscal Service, Psaki said, adding that Biden does not believe including his signature on the payments is a “priority” or a “necessary step.”
Under the American Rescue Plan, individuals earning less than $75,000 per year will receive a $1,400 payment (as will heads of household earning less than $112,500 per year), and couples filing jointly earning less than $150,000 per year will receive $2,800.
Eligible families will also receive $1,400 for dependents.
The payments will phase out as income rises to $80,000 per year for individuals, $120,000 for heads of household and $160,000 for couples filing jointly.
Key Background
After the passage of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act last spring, the Treasury Department ordered President Trump’s name to be printed on paper stimulus checks after Trump suggested the move to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the New York Times reported—a major break with protocol. Trump’s name appeared in the memo line, not the signature line, of the checks because the president is not legally allowed to sign disbursements from the Treasury Department. That decision led some officials to worry that delivery of much-needed relief to American families would be delayed because of the technical challenges involved in making the change. At the time, the Treasury Department denied that adding Trump’s signature would delay the payments.
Surprising Fact
The appearance of Trump’s name on stimulus checks was the first time any president’s name appeared on a disbursement from the IRS.
Crucial Quote
“This is not about [Biden],” Psaki said. “This is about the American people getting relief.”
What To Watch For
The House of Representatives is expected to vote a final time on the bill on Wednesday, after which Biden will be able to sign the package into law. Echoing comments from Biden last weekend, Psaki said she expects that stimulus payments will begin flowing this month, with the first batch going to those who provided direct deposit information to the IRS in their 2020 or 2019 tax returns. She added that the Treasury Department is working to ensure that more payments are sent electronically, rather than mailed via paper check or debit card, to speed up the process.
Further Reading
$1,400 Stimulus Checks Are Almost Here—How To Know If You’re Eligible (Forbes)
Americans Should Receive $1,400 Stimulus Checks Starting End Of March, Says Biden (Forbes)
Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Bill Looks Certain As It Heads To House For Final Vote (Forbes)
Stimulus Checks May Be Delayed Because Trump Wants His Name Printed On Them, Report Says (Forbes)
