These are the States Handing Out a New Stimulus Check: Chances are, a fourth stimulus check from the federal government isn’t coming anytime soon – but if you’re a resident of California, Indiana, Florida, or New York, there may still be some stimulus checks and tax rebates on the way.
California’s Next Stimulus Check
In January, California Governor Gavin Newsom said that an additional stimulus payment to residents of the state was “likely.” While further tax rebates were not originally part of the $286.4 billion proposal put forward by the governor that month, he did say that he would expect to revise the language of the budget in May to include an additional rebate to taxpayers.
“We expect in the May revise language when I update the budget that we are likely to have an additional rebate to the taxpayers,” he said.
Exact details have not yet been announced, including the size of the rebate and who would qualify for it.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the state-issued rebates, having already sent two rounds of stimulus out to taxpayers under the Golden State Stimulus program. In May of 2021, Governor Newsom unveiled an $11.9 billion proposal that directed $600 checks to two-thirds of the population of California. An additional $500 was paid out to families with children.
New York’s Stimulus Check for Illegal Aliens?
New York’s $2.1 billion stimulus check fund has already distributed taxpayers’ money to more than 130,000 applicants before the end of 2021. The fund, which was designed for illegal aliens and others present in New York but unable to access government-issued stimulus checks, quickly ran out of money after being deluged with applications. Eligible residents were required to have made less than $26,000 in 2020.
The Excluded Workers Fund website currently reads that the fund has been “completely allocated” but the New York Department of Labor is under immense pressure to expand the fund to more illegal aliens in the state.
Florida’s ‘Stimulus Check’ Bonus for Teachers
Florida is taking a different approach to stimulus than New York, allocating cash in its proposed $99.7 billion budget for the next fiscal year to give teachers a bonus. The budget, which also provides additional funding for police and the prevention of illegal immigration, would give teachers $1,000 bonuses.
“Florida is clicking in on all cylinders when it comes to the economy,” Governor Ron DeSantis said during a press conference in Tallahassee in December. “This is a really strong picture of a state that’s performing very, very well.”
Indiana’s Tax Refund as Stimulus Check?
It may not be much, but Indiana residents will receive an additional $125 in tax rebates after filing their taxes in 2022.
In July, it was announced that Indiana residents would receive a combined refund worth more than $545 million. The refund is not specifically COVID-related, however. Under Indiana law, if the state’s cash reserves are at least 12.% of general fund appropriations, then some of that money is paid back to the taxpayers.
Indiana ended the fiscal year 2021 with roughly $4 billion in the bank, which was 23% of its overall expenditures.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and report on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
