President Donald Trump announced $90 one-time payments to 20.8 million Medicare beneficiaries on Friday while reviving his promise to give every adult U.S. citizen $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. $500 Obamacare refund checks are also being distributed to roughly 950,000 people who bought unsubsidized coverage through the federal marketplace. Sending $5,000 to every adult citizen would cost roughly $1.2 trillion and require congressional approval, raising concerns among Republicans about the deficit and inflation. A Reuters analysis found 71% of the Obamacare money — $339 million — is going to residents of 13 states with some of the country’s most competitive Senate and gubernatorial races. Polling shows mixed results, with an Economist/YouGov survey finding 57% of registered voters doubted Trump would actually deliver the $5,000 payments even if Republicans retained Congress.
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