Federal Policy

Making the case for cash

• “Recurring checks are critical for a race-equitable recovery,” 2/25/21
  Cash is essential to building back better and ensuring the recovery reaches everyone
• “Two direct payments for the cost of one,” 2/4/21
  Recurring, targeted checks to families earning up $100,000
• “Case for cash: The case for targeted, recurring direct payments,” 1/13/21
  Recurring, targeted relief is the key to a strong, sustained, and equitable recovery
• “Deck: Targeted checks for those who need help most,” 1/21/21
  Checks targeted at the bottom 60% will drive an equitable, fast recovery
• “Policy options for direct payments,” Jan. 2020
  Policy considerations for direct cash payments
• “ITEP modeling of $2,000 payments,” Dec. 2020
  State-by-state data on $2,000 checks and the recently-passed $600 checks
• Targeted $1200 checks or options including Cassidy/Romney/Rubio proposal for a faster, more equitable, and sustained recovery,” (Targeted HEROES checks or targeted CARES checks) 12/16/20
  Cash for those who need it will promote consumer activity, improve racial equity, hasten the recovery, and reduce costs.
• “Making the bipartisan case for cash to shorten the recession,” 11/24/20
  Targeted direct payments are the simplest, most direct way to get cash into the economy
• “Urban: Two payments would keep 14 million out of poverty,” 9/8/20
  Extending UI boost and SNAP benefits lift that to 18 million
• “Over half of jobless don’t get unemployment insurance,” 8/7/20
  Data shows racial disparity in UI payments. Recurring direct payments can help
• “Recurring direct payments can help close the racial wealth and income divides,” 7/2/20
  How direct payments can make relief and recovery efforts more racially equitable
• “Children and Families Need $2,000 a Month to Weather This Crisis,” 5/15/20
  Facts and stories about helping families with children, which are disproportionately feeling the effects of this crisis.
• “The EITC and direct cash payments will boost family financial security and drive the recovery,” 5/5/20
  EITC modernizations deliver sustained support, complement immediate direct payments
• “TALKING POINTS: Why we need cash to people along with employer-based relief,” 4/23/20
  Making the case for why cash is a necessary complement to employer-based relief
• “Beyond CARES: Lasting support to stabilize families,” 4/9/20
  Overall case for bigger, regular, lasting direct payments

Reference Documents

• “COVID Cash Stimulus Policies Side-by-Side,” 10/5/20
  Comparing Congressional proposals for regular cash payments
• “Letter from Organizations to Members of Congress,” 5/6/20
  We urge Congressional support for bigger, regular direct payments to people until we reach full employment
• “Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy from Rep. Dean and Rep. Beyer,” 5/5/20
  “We propose sending direct payments to American families
  on a quarterly basis – beginning at $2,000 per American”
• “Letter To Speaker Pelosi And Members Of Congress On Behalf Of Local Officeholders,” 4/29/20

Implementation recommendations

• “Ensure every eligible recipient gets a check by paying them automatically,” (Summary of recommendations) 2/23/21
  Implementation recommendations from taxpayer advocates and national experts
• “Congressional action to improve direct payment administration,” 1/29/21
  How to distribute the next round of payments equitably and automatically
• “Executive Actions for Immediate COVID Financial Relief,” 1/22/21
  Executive actions to rapidly get money into American households
• “Economic Impact Payments” 7/7/20
  9 technical fixes to ensure 10 to 20 million economically vulnerable Americans access stimulus payments and the Earned Income Tax Credit
  

State Policy

Making the case for cash

• “State and local governments can leverage federal funds to provide direct cash relief” 6/23/20
  How policymakers can use state and local aid and philanthropic dollars to send direct payments to households
• “How federal direct payments can help states and cities weather the crisis” 4/28/20
  How cash payments to households can relieve pressure on state and local safety nets
• “Beyond CARES: Next Steps for States,” 4/9/20
  How states can leverage cash policies to help keep communities afloat

Relief for immigrant families 

• “End the tax penalty against immigrant workers,” 4/21/20
  How expanding state EITCs to ITIN filers can fill gaps in federal response
  

Revenue

• “State Options to Shore up Revenues and Improve Tax Codes amid Pandemic,” 4/15/20
  How states can raise necessary revenue in the midst of the crisis