What's in the new Democratic stimulus plan? More direct payments

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A new $3 trillion stimulus plan moving through the House of Representatives includes another round of direct payments for most Americans.

The package is called the "HEROES" bill because it provides $200 billion in relief for those who have worked on the front lines through the pandemic.

 “We’re now calling these folks essential workers, and before the pandemic, most of them were invisible," Rep. Gwen Moore, D-WI, said. "The guy mopping up the emergency room floor.”

This plan does have a slightly different direct payment than last time.

The bill calls for another round of $1,200 payments to Americans making under $75,000, doubled for joint filers. The payments would again scale back after $75,000, and those making $99,000 would receive no payments.

This time, households would receive an additional $1,200 for dependent. The limit is three dependents per household, meaning the most one could receive is $6,000. Additionally, dependents older than 16 would be eligible for payments, which was not the case with the first stimulus plan.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, put worker safety provisions in the bill.

She wants mandatory OSHA standards for businesses, like Wisconsin meat packing companies.

“It’s not even standards, it’s guidance," Baldwin said. "And it’s sort of the same stuff that we know. They’re recommending face masks. They’re recommending social distancing.”

Republicans say it’s too early to throw more money at the situation.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI, said in a statement "We’ve already supplied about 70% of the estimated loss in revenue, and you’ve got Nancy Pelosi and those guys out there advocating for $1 trillion more."

“We’re taking a look at what we’ve already done," Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said. "We’ve added about $3 trillion to the national debt. And assessing the effectiveness of that before deciding to go forward.”

The House is expected to vote on this plan by Friday.