HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut’s two U.S. senators praised the state AARP Tuesday for keeping the pressure on the Trump administration to deliver money and benefits to seniors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AARP Connecticut hosted two live, interactive Telephone Town Halls with federal legislators this week to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and the steps the state and federal government are taking to respond to the pandemic.
The first Telephone Town Hall Tuesday included U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Quinnipiac University Professor Nick Nicholson.
During the call, Murphy and Blumenthal were effusive in their comments about how the AARP’s lobbying kept pressure on President Donald Trump to deliver more in pandemic relief funding than he first promised.
The Internal Revenue Service has begun to distribute stimulus checks of up to $1,200 to millions of Americans as the federal government tries to jolt the economy back to life amid the devastation from the coronavirus pandemic.
The first checks were delivered via direct deposit Friday and tens of millions will see them appear in their bank accounts by today, according to the Treasury Department.
Some 50 million to 70 million Americans are expected to get their checks via direct deposit by today, according to the Treasury Department. Those who haven’t provided the IRS with their bank account information will get a paper check in the mail, which could take longer, though the department has launched a portal on its website that allows some Americans to input their direct deposit information to speed up getting the cash.
In an unprecedented move, the Treasury Department agreed Monday night to add the president’s name to the paper checks, which may add additional time to their expected delivery.
Not everyone will get a check.
If a person, regardless of age, had an adjusted gross income of $99,000 or more then it’s unlikely they will see a check. For married couples filing jointly, the amount is $198,000 and for a head of household it’s $136,500.
A person also won’t get a stimulus check if they’re claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return. This category includes older people or adults with disabilities who are claimed as dependents by someone else.
The government is distributing the checks under a new $2.2 trillion economic recovery package that Trump signed into law last month.
“AARP has played such a vital role,” Murphy said. “AARP has been there to remind President Trump to keep seniors in mind and that we in Washington go the extra mile to protect the $1,200 rebate for all.”
Murphy noted that under the original plan from the IRS, recipients would have had to fill out and send in extra paperwork before they would receive their payment.
Blumenthal added that he hopes the Senate and the House will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to pass further legislation to help all Americans who have lost a job or been hospitalized during the duration of the pandemic.
Both of the Connecticut senators said it serves as a strong reminder to a president who has failed in many aspects of handling the pandemic that the AARP will not let him off the hook during the duration of the crisis.
And both renewed their earlier calls for more testing, stating that at some time America will go back to school, back to work, and that’s when testing will be key.
Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism!
The two Connecticut senators and Nicholson also praised Gov. Ned Lamont for his handling of the crisis while stating they also thought it was not time to lift restrictions – at least not yet.
As of Tuesday afternoon, coronavirus cases in Connecticut climbed by 608 since Monday and there were 69 new deaths, according to Lamont.
That brings the total to 13,989 cases and the death toll reached 671.
The number of hospitalizations statewide rose by 19, with 1,779 currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
More COVID-19 Coverage

Connecticut To Get FEMA Funds for COVID Testing Sites
Connecticut will receive more than $2 million in federal emergency funding to pay for the operation of COVID-19 testing sites during a six-month period last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Monday. The roughly $2.15 million will come from FEMA’s public assistance grant program and will be used to reimburse state funds used to…
Keep reading
COVID Transmission Increases in CT
As of Friday afternoon, Connecticut’s test positivity rate was 13.71% and there were 323 residents hospitalized with the virus. On Thursday, the Department of Public Health reported that 158 of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities qualified for the state’s “red alert” distinction for COVID-19, which is triggered when a community records at least 15 daily cases per…
Keep reading
Connecticut At High, Medium Risk of COVID Transmission
Connecticut’s COVID-19 test positivity rating was 10.35% on Thursday and all eight Connecticut counties were in the medium yellow or high orange categories on the CDC’s community spread map. Those community maps, created by the CDC in February, are supposed to tell people to take preventative steps such as masking and testing. Hartford, Middlesex and…
Keep reading
Advocates Make 11th Hour Pitch For Compassionate Release
Hartford, CT — Advocates seeking compassionate release from prison during public health emergencies like COVID rallied at the state Capitol hours before they saw their legislation die without action in either chamber. At the rally on Wednesday, protestors and advocates were demanding action from legislators to pass a bill that addresses COVID in prisons. The…
Keep reading
Legislating During COVID-19
The legislative session ends in three days now, that’s shorter than the amount of time someone should quarantine under CDC standards if they have COVID-19, so how are lawmakers coping? Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, started experiencing symptoms two weeks ago and tested positive for COVID-19. Luckily the session wasn’t scheduled until last Tuesday, but…
Keep reading
Study Shows Union Nursing Homes Had Lower Rates of COVID-19
A recent study published by Health Affairs found that unionized nursing homes had lower resident COVID-19 mortality rates. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing home residents have accounted for roughly one of every six COVID-19 deaths in the United States. Nursing homes have also been very dangerous places for workers, with more than…
Keep reading
Senator Murphy Tests Positive For COVID
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy announced on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19. “FYI after feeling mild symptoms overnight, I tested positive for COVID this morning. We’ve done the contact tracing and let people know. It’s a bummer, but I’m sure if I wasn’t fully vaccinated I would be feeling a lot worse. So remember…
Keep reading
COVID Cases Tick Back Up
Most of Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive orders, which were extended to April 15 by the legislature, have now expired just as Connecticut’s test positivity rate for COVID-19 is creeping back up and students at UConn are being asked to mask up again, starting today. According to the Department of Public Health, Connecticut recorded 3,939 positive…
Keep reading
House Green Lights Extension of COVID-19 Laws
The House gave final passage Wednesday to a package of four concepts that had been executive orders and are now law. Previously, the concepts were executive orders to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep reading
Tong Tests Positive For COVID-19
Attorney General William Tong has tested positive for COVID-19. He is experiencing mild symptoms and quarantining at home.
Keep reading
Lieutenant Gov. Tests Positive For COVID-19, Days After Gov
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz tested positive for the COVID-19 virus during a routine rapid test over the weekend, her chief staff said in a Monday morning statement. Bysiewicz’s results follow Gov. Ned Lamont, who tested positive late last week. “I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Bysiewicz wrote on Twitter. “Thanks to the vaccine and booster…
Keep reading
Lamont Tests Positive for COVID-19
Gov. Ned Lamont tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday. The results from two rapid tests were positive and he’s awaiting the results of a PCR test, according to this staff. The 68-year-old governor received his second booster exactly a week ago, but has made it through the first two years of the pandemic without contracting the…
Keep reading
New Initiative Allows Same Day COVID Testing And Treatment
Hundreds of pharmacies and federally qualified community health centers across Connecticut are now offering COVID testing and treatments to patients at the same time and place. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these test-to-treat sites provide antiviral medication to hundreds of locations across the U.S, who then distribute them to patients…
Keep reading
YNHH Top Doc Boosts 2nd Boosters
If you’re eligible to get a second Covid-19 booster shot, go get it. Especially if you’re over 50 and have an underlying medical condition like diabetes that puts you at “high risk” of contracting a severe case of COVID. Read more from the New Haven Independent.
Keep reading
Federal COVID Funds To Limit Tax Relief In An Election Year
Like all states, Connecticut accepted billions of dollars from the federal government for COVID-19 relief, but that money limits how much the state can now consider cutting taxes. It’s bubbling up as a point of contention as lawmakers race to adjust the two-year state budget, which is currently experiencing a record surplus. Connecticut is expected…
Keep reading