After threatening to blow up a $ 900 billion coronavirus aid package for several eleven-hour requests – one of which is blocked by his own party – President Donald Trump spent Christmas Eve golf in Florida and tweeting election lies as millions of desperate Americans have been left to spend their holidays worrying, they will soon be deprived of their few economic livelihoods.
If Trump does not sign the new aid measure, it is estimated that 14 million unemployed Americans will lose unemployment benefits on Saturday, a federal moratorium on evictions will expire at the end of the year, and billions of dollars in nutritional aid and rental assistance will be leave it in balance as fresh economic values make it clear that the recession is far from over.
“Congress must pay $ 2,000 in direct payments, and Trump must sign the Covid-relief bill. If not, tens of millions of Americans will lose their unemployment benefits, go hungry, and be expelled.”
-Sen. Bernie Sanders
“Will we have to suffer more? Just ask someone to come to their senses,” said Samara Crockett, a 43-year-old single mother who was fired in September. Washington Post. “I’m in survival mode. Do I get gas or food? What do I do? That’s my day.”
Emergency unemployment benefits were already set to cease temporarily due to several-month obstructions from the Republican-controlled Senate, but Trump’s objections to the legislation – which he did not raise during negotiations on the measure – are in jeopardy. extension of the bill and $ 300 per week increase in unemployment benefits.
If Trump waits until Sunday or later to sign aid legislation, the delay “will effectively reduce the extension of unemployment programs that expire to 10 weeks from 11,” Ben Casselman of New York Times noted.
“Here’s why: The bill says benefits will not be available for” any week of unemployment that begins before the date this law is passed, “Casselman wrote. “So if Trump doesn’t sign the bill until next week, people can’t get benefits until next week. But the end date for benefits doesn’t change: March 14 (with a phasing out until April 5). So workers would actually lose a week of benefits. Please note that this also applies to the $ 300 supplement. “
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Who unsuccessfully fought for higher weekly unemployment benefits under the new law, told Times that “Trump’s threat of threat threatens to cost millions of unemployed workers a week of income.”
“The ability of millions of Americans to pay rent and buy food is in balance, and Donald Trump has spent his day playing golf,” Wyden said. – It’s a shame.
Too often we talk about what happens in Congress and WH as a horse race or a TV drama.
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But millions of Americans are …
– closing the unemployment 26 dec
-Making evacuation
-without food / medicineThe “stimulus” bill covid B / ca was not completed for 5 monthshttps: //t.co/WPPNBshzI8
– Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) December 24, 2020
On Thursday, congressional leaders signed the 5,600-page extended package – which includes both the coronavirus rescue measure and a $ 1.4 trillion omnibus government funding bill – and the White House sent it to Florida for possible approval. of the president. Trump would not have decided whether to sign the legislation, which will die on January 3 with the end of the current Congress. The government is due to close on December 29.
“It’s time for Trump to stop bluffing and queuing up his party members so that the government can provide this long-standing relief to people across the country at this time of great need.”
-Representative. Rashida Tlaib
Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, Republicans in the House on Thursday blocked a democratic attempt to pay the $ 2,000 direct payments Trump claimed he wanted. video address launched earlier this week, a day after Congress approved the coronavirus aid package. Trump has not publicly criticized members of his party for blocking $ 2,000 payments that progressives have been supporting for months.
“This holiday season, families have to make incredibly difficult decisions, such as whether they should keep the lights on or buy food,” Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) Said on Thursday. “It’s time for Trump to stop bluffing and queuing up his party members so that the government can provide this long-awaited relief to people across the country at this time of great need.”
House Democrats plan to hold a ground-breaking vote Monday for autonomous legislation to replace the current $ 600 direct payments in the $ 2,000 check aid bill. Although the measure is expected to pass the House, it is unclear whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Would even allow the vote on the increase in payments.
“Congress must pay $ 2,000 in direct payments, and Trump must sign the Covid bailout bill,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) posted on Twitter Thursday. “If not, tens of millions of Americans will lose their unemployment benefits, go hungry and be expelled. That would be a level of government cruelty unheard of in our lifetime.”