U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree has joined with 86 other House members in sponsoring legislation that she says is aimed at correcting a mistake in the economic stimulus package signed into law last week.
Pingree says in the haste of crafting the huge stimulus package, restrictive language from a past stimulus measure was included that limits the definition of a dependent as a child under the age of 16. Older children would therefore not trigger the $500 payment to families. Pingree says the new legislation would expand the definition of dependents to include children under 19, students under 24, and dependents who have disabilities.
“I think this would be included in a fourth package but that will take some time and this should be happening right now when people receive there checks based on this third bill.”
Pingree says that all too frequently provisions in lengthy pieces of legislation are worded poorly or miss the intent of Congress.
