Stimulus and Relief Checks Hindered by Technology
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We ran the numbers: There are 1222 news articles covering this topic. 41% (507) are left leaning, 28% (347) center, 30% (368) right leaning.
Stimulus checks and other coronavirus relief packages are hindered by dated technology and overloaded call centers. While left-leaning articles highlight the variety of problems that have hindered coronavirus relief packages, right-leaning articles highlight that some coronavirus stimulus checks are being sent to dead people.
A left-leaning article by The Washington Post highlights that the Small Business Administration ran out of money to make small business loans this week, as almost no unemployment aid has reached eligible self-employed and gig workers. Other problems taxpayers reported this week included payments being sent to incorrect bank accounts, failure to include $500 checks for children, and not getting money at all due to a technical glitch involving some accounts of people who used tax preparers.
A centrist article by NPR reports that state agencies say a large part of what is causing technology problems leading to delays is the avalanche of newly eligible applicants that have overwhelmed existing systems. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced last week that 300 additional call center employees had been hired to help process applications, but applicants have been reluctant to answer calls from a strange phone number.
Fox News published a right-leaning article highlighting that Representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., says he is concerned that reports of coronavirus stimulus checks being sent to dead people are just the “tip of iceberg” of waste coming from the $2.2 trillion package that Congress passed and President Trump signed last month. The article notes that back in 2009, the Obama administration sent about 89,000 checks worth $250 each to dead and incarcerated people as part of the stimulus package meant to combat The Great Recession.
From the left
Stimulus checks and other relief hindered by 1960s technology and rocky rollout
Washington Post