Trump wants second stimulus checks to be more than $1,200. Experts question whether that’s the right relief

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during a tour of the Double Eagle Energy Oil Rig in Midland, Texas, July 29, 2020.

Carlos Barria | Reuters

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are in agreement on sending a second batch of $1,200 stimulus checks to millions of Americans.

And now President Donald Trump is upping the ante, calling for the government to cut checks for more than that $1,200 figure.

“I’d like to see it be very high because I love the people,” Trump said on Wednesday. “I want the people to get it.”

The president did not elaborate on how much higher he wanted the checks to be.

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Trump’s comments come after Senate Republicans introduced the HEALS Act earlier this week, their targeted $1 trillion plan for shoring up the U.S. economy. House Democrats in May passed their own bill, the HEROES Act, which would cost about $3 trillion.

Both parties are now working to come to a consensus on issues where they are divided, particularly unemployment insurance. The extra $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits expires this month. Lawmakers are at odds over how much extra help they want to provide to jobless Americans going forward.