Dividend

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) softened his stance on President Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend payments during a Kansas Senate debate against Democratic opponent Adam Hamilton at the Kansas State Fair. Asked whether he backed the plan, which carries an estimated $1.2 trillion price tag amid rising national debt, Marshall said he would "bring in all the information" before deciding, adding he has disagreed with Trump before and likely will again. The comments contrast with a social media post earlier in the week in which Marshall appeared to promote the dividend idea.

Marshall has also broken with the administration on trade policy, opposing a threatened ban on Canadian jet maker Bombardier over concerns for Kansas jobs. During the debate, he faced audience heckling over past lawsuits from his medical practice against patients with outstanding debts, which he called a "hit job." Hamilton, who won a competitive Democratic primary, faces long odds in a state that hasn't elected a Democratic senator since 1932, though handicappers recently downgraded the race from safe to likely Republican.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed back on President Trump's proposal to send $5,000 checks to American adults if Republicans retain control of Congress after the midterms, warning the plan would worsen inflation and add to the national debt. Speaking at a news conference in Miami, DeSantis pointed to Florida's budget surpluses and tax cuts as a better model, arguing that returning money through tax reductions is preferable to broad direct payments that could flood the economy with cash.

The proposal, floated by Trump on social media, would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval, adding to a federal deficit already near $1.8 trillion annually. It follows earlier Trump proposals, including a $2,000 "dividend" and a $1,776 payment to military members. Legal experts note the plan would likely be permissible since payments would go to all Americans regardless of voting behavior. The idea comes as Republicans face a difficult midterm landscape, with narrow House and Senate margins at stake amid Trump's low approval ratings.