Despite hearing from Republican senators who want to reduce the amount of check payments in the third stimulus package, President Joe Biden is holding firm on his proposal for $1,400 in direct payments However, the White House may want to narrow the guidelines so that fewer people can receive checks

President Biden met with 10 moderate Republican senators on Monday (February 1) to discuss a $618 billion alternative to the massive $19 trillion stimulus package Republicans want to provide a $1,000 check to low-income taxpayers earning up to $40,000 a year ($80,000 for a family) and phase out the check for those earning over $50,000 and $100,000

According to the Washington Post, Biden does not want a reduction from $1,400 to $1,000, but his administration may be open to lowering the income cap from the proposed $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a couple

These are the same income limits of the first two stimulus packages If the same pro-rating were applied, they would provide some to those earning up to $103,000 and $206,000, respectively

One alternative being discussed by the Democrats would phase out the $1,400 payment for individuals earning over $50,000 and couples earning over $100,000, and provide smaller checks to those who slightly exceed these limits Lawmakers are also considering whether to provide an additional $1,400 per child

The back-and-forth between the White House and Senate Republicans is partly due to Biden's desire to get the bill passed with bipartisan support, even if it is the third round of the stimulus package However, Republicans have resisted the total cost of the White House's initial proposal and many of the provisions it contains

Democrats continue to move forward with a budget reconciliation process that would allow the bill to pass the Senate without the standard 60 votes needed to bring it to the floor

So if Democrats can pass the entire Biden bill without Republican support, why the sudden desire to lower the income limit? Because at least one Democratic senator, Joe Manchin (Democrat, R-West Virginia), wants a more "targeted" stimulus package with fewer allocations to high-income earners Because the Senate is 50-50, his vote is needed for the reconciliation process

Manchin initially opposed Biden's $1,400 check, saying he would prefer a smaller amount However, he is now in favor of Biden's proposal, giving the Democrats the green light they needed to move forward with the settlement

Manchin publicly changed his mind about the $1,400 amount the day after West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, a Republican, expressed support for more stimulus, saying that Congress should "go big"

Manchin may also have sensed the national mood Americans of both parties overwhelmingly support the $1,400 stimulus package: 64% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats support the amount, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll

However, far fewer Republicans (37%) and even more Democrats (97%) say they favor Biden's overall bailout package