House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a “guaranteed income” for Americans, amid the crippling economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, is “worthy of attention.”
The California Democrat said financial aid provided through the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill should be extended.
“Well, I think we should extend the time, I really do. I always thought that was too short a time. I think we should extend the time,” Pelosi said Monday on MSNBC.
“Others have suggested a minimum income for — 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 to meeting our needs in so many ways that may need some assistance as well,” she said.
The idea of a government-backed minimum income emerged during the 2020 Democratic presidential race from Andrew Yang, who touted the benefits of a “universal basic income” on the economy.
It has since been paid fresh attention, now that 26 million workers have filed for unemployment in the past five weeks and the federal government sent $1,200 payments to eligible Americans as part of the relief plan signed by President Trump last month.
Other lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans — have proposed similar measures.