Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary Wants Second Stimulus Checks, Unemployment Benefits Extended Until 2022

Shark Tank executive producer Kevin O’Leary is calling for another round of stimulus checks or an extension of weekly federal unemployment benefits, which are set to expire by the end of this year.

In recent weeks, a bipartisan group of senators released a $908 billion compromise relief package. The proposal's framework showed that small businesses and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) would be granted $288 billion. Local, state and tribe governments would also receive $160 billion.

While the compromise plan would extend the $300 weekly unemployment benefits for four months, it did not include a provision for another round of $1,200 direct payments, News10 ABC reported.

Shark Tank investor and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary said excluding more stimulus checks for Americans would be a mistake. He also urged lawmakers to extend unemployment benefits until 2022.

“I’d much rather have a stimulus package that gives individual checks or extends unemployment benefits for the next 14 months,” O’Leary told Yahoo Finance.

O’Leary founded SoftKey Software Products in 1986. The company had became a world leader in educational and home productivity software by 1998, before Mattel acquired it a year later for $4.2 billion.

In addition to his work with Shark Tank, O’Leary has hosted Project Earth, a television series on the Discovery Channel. He also authored three bestselling books, including “Cold Hard Truth on Family, Kids, and Money,” according to his profile on ABC.

O’Leary’s statement comes as time is running out for Congress to approve another relief package. Lawmakers could still pass a bill before their Dec. 18 holiday recess.

While the $908 billion proposal framework excludes direct payments, Democratic lawmakers and President-elect Joe Biden are pushing to include it in the proposal’s final language.

“It would be better if they have the $1,200 and I understand that may be still in play,” Biden said.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, a Democratic member of the bipartisan group of senators, said the group may still consider including provisions for more direct stimulus checks.

“And those who want the direct stimulus checks, that will be something that a president-elect Biden will grapple with,” Warner said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union. “We are looking at a four-month emergency relief package.”