An amendment to the budget, sponsored by a bipartisan group of 16 senators led by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Mass.), to focus stimulus checks on lower-income families was passed in the Senate on Thursday. The amendment did not detail the threshold for the stimulus checks but said it would “establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to targeting economic impact payments to Americans who are suffering from the effects of COVID–19,” and “ensure upper-income taxpayers are not eligible.” The amendment was passed with a vote of 58-42. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee voted in favor. The measure was proposed and passed in a procedure Thursday afternoon that was set up for proposals of any amendments to the budget bill that is still under debate. White House officials have said they are willing to compromise on the threshold of the income but not the amount on the …