Third Stimulus Check: Some Republican Americans Oppose $1,400 Payments, Poll Shows

Some Republican Americans said they oppose President Joe Biden’s proposal to distribute a third round of stimulus checks worth $1,400, a new poll published Wednesday showed.

Roughly 32% of Republicans said they do not agree with Biden’s call for $1,400 direct payments for millions of American individuals and families, while 64% said they are in favor of the checks, a new Quinnipiac University survey conducted Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 found.

The poll also asked Democrats and independents whether they support a third round of personal checks. Among Democrats, 90% said they approve of the measure, while 7% rejected Biden's call for more payments. Among Independents, 78% are in favor of a third round of checks, while 18% oppose it.

Overall, nearly 8 in 10 Americans — 78% of the poll’s 1,075 adult respondents — said they support the new round of stimulus checks, while 16% said they oppose it.

The Quinnipiac University poll also found that the majority of Americans support other Democratic priorities. For example, 61% said they want lawmakers to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour.

“Struggling to pay the bills, American households need an infusion of cash and need it now,” Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy said. “So give it to them, is the resounding judgment of the public.”

During his presidential campaign and in his inauguration speech, President Biden promised to deliver more relief to Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic, including an extension of weekly unemployment benefits and more payments.

Some economists and Republican lawmakers have urged Biden to give checks only to the hardest-hit families. Others argue that the payments are a waste of taxpayers’ money.

While Biden and Democratic leaders in Congress have continued their push to pass another round of checks, the Biden administration has signaled that it's willing to impose limits on eligibility.

“We can’t walk away from an additional $1,400 in direct checks that we proposed because the people need them. We can better target them,” Biden said, according to a source familiar with the matter. “But I’m not going to start my administration by breaking a promise to the American people.” President Biden said during a conference call with House Democrats on Wednesday, according to a source who was on the call.

In the latest stimulus check proposal, individuals earning $50,000 or less and married couples making $100,000 or less are eligible to receive payments. Parents of children would also receive an additional $1,400 per child.

House Democrats are aiming to pass Biden’s coronavirus relief bill through reconciliation. On Wednesday, the House passed a budget resolution bill with a 218 to 212 vote. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later this week.