House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that the federal government should extend coronavirus aid beyond the next two months, perhaps by providing people with a minimum basic income in a new spending package.
“We may have to think in terms of some different ways to put money in people’s pockets,” Pelosi told MSNBC.
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Pelosi said that the more than $670 billion in aid provided to small businesses, as well as the eight weeks of unemployment insurance, may not be sufficient because there is no coronavirus vaccine, and people may not be able to return to work without risking their health.
“Well, I think we should extend the time. I really do,” the California Democrat said. “I always thought that was too short a time. I think we should extend the time.”
Democrats are busy writing a new economic aid package that may be ready for consideration next month.
Pelosi suggested that it could go far beyond unemployment insurance, perhaps to something more permanent for people who are not benefiting from the small business aid or unemployment insurance.
“As we go forward, 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, because there are many more people than just in small business and hired by small business, as important as that is to the vitality of our economy — and other people who are not in the public sector meeting our needs in so many ways that may need some assistance as well.”
Several key liberal House Democrats have called for universal basic income in response to the coronavirus outbreak, among them freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Universal basic income is a non-starter with the GOP, however, and is likely to be rejected by Republicans, who control the Senate, and by President Trump, who is eager for people to return to work.
