Proposed direct cash payments from the federal government to the American people to blunt the economic impact of COVID-19 has the support of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Murphy says there are two-income families in Connecticut making $100,000 or less who live paycheck to paycheck. That’s why he joined several Democratic colleagues in the U.S. Senate to push for an immediate $2,000 check to every adult and child.

“What we are trying to do is keep businesses open. We need consumers to be putting the money into the mainstream economy. So that’s why you need this stimulus, this cash payment system, to be big enough and broad enough.”

Murphy says if the crisis persists, the initial check should be followed by a $1,500 check in the summer and a $1,000 check in the fall.

He says that would do more for American families than a Republican plan to bail out specific industries.