The deal also provides $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and includes other priorities at the end of the session, such as increasing the benefits of food stamps.
Sunday’s signing, at his private Florida club, came as he faced escalating criticism of his eleventh-hour demands for larger $ 2,000 checks and reduced spending, even though the bill had already passed the House and Senate ample margins passed. The bill passed with what lawmakers thought was Trump’s blessing, and after months of negotiations with his administration.
His drag resulted in the forfeiture of unemployment benefits for millions and threatened government shutdown amid a pandemic. But signing the bill prevents another crisis of Trump’s own creation and ends a stalemate with his own party during the final days of his administration.
It was unclear what Trump had accomplished with his postponement, except that he angered all parties and allowed the Democrats to continue their push for higher emergency controls, which his own party opposes.
In his statement, Trump reiterated his frustrations with the COVID-19 bill for providing only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 his fellow Republicans had already turned down. He also complained about what he considered to be unnecessary expenditures by the government.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message making it clear to Congress that wasteful items must be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
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While the president insisted that he send Congress “a redefined version” of items to be removed during the dissolution process, those are merely suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, does not necessarily need to be amended.
Democrats, who hold a majority in the House of Representatives, immediately pledged to avoid austerity. Democrats “will reject any resignation filed by the president,” said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, Chairman of the Credit Committee.
Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue to debate whether the emergency checks should be as great as the president has demanded. The Democrat-led House backs the larger controls and will vote on the matter Monday, but it is expected to be ignored by the Republican-occupied Senate, where spending is facing backlash. For now, the administration cannot begin sending the $ 600 payments.
Alabama Republican Representative Mo Brooks, a conservative who supported the extraordinary and senseless challenge posed by the election results, counted himself on Monday among opponents of a more generous aid package and Trump’s call for higher payments.
“It’s money we don’t have, we have to borrow to get it and we can’t afford to pay it back,” he said of “Fox and Friends.” ‘Someone has to show me how we’re going to pay for it. How long will it take before we all end up in grueling insolvency and bankruptcy? ‘
But Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York said she was open to the idea of $ 2,000 checks. “Many Americans are in dire need of relief,” she said on the show.
All in all, both Republicans and Democrats welcomed Trump’s decision to sign the bill into law.
“The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do a tremendous amount of good for the struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who now need help,” said Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I thank the president for signing this relief into law.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Called the signing “welcome news to the 14 million Americans who just lost the lifeblood of unemployment benefits over Christmas weekend, and to the millions of others struggling to survive this historic pandemic and economic crisis. crisis. “
Others criticized Trump’s delay in enacting the bill. In a tweet, Representative Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Accused Trump of “playing Russian roulette with American lives. A familiar and comfortable place for him.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said he would offer Trump’s proposal for $ 2,000 checks for a Senate vote, bringing Republicans to the scene.
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $ 2,000 checks,” Schumer tweeted. “Then I’ll pass it on to the Senate.” He said no Democrats will object. “Will Senate Republicans?”
Democrats promise more aid will come as soon as President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see attitude.
Congress is set to continue Monday, with the House expected to vote to override Trump’s veto of an annual defense bill, and confront the president with another major issue in the closing days of the session. The Senate is expected to follow Tuesday.
In the face of growing economic hardship, the spread of disease, and an impending shutdown, lawmakers on Sunday urged Trump to sign the legislation immediately, and then have Congress succeed with additional help. Aside from unemployment benefits and family aid payments, money was at stake for the distribution of vaccines, businesses and more. Protection against evictions was also at stake.
“What the president is doing now is incredibly cruel,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., About Trump’s delaying tactics before the president signed the law. “There are so many hurting people … It’s really insane and this president must finally … do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.”
Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey said he understood Trump “wants to be remembered for calling for big checks, but the danger is he will be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he lets it go.”
Toomey added, “So I think it’s best, as I said, sign this and then advocate for later legislation.”
Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger from Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to “play this old switcheroo game.”
“I don’t get it,” he said. “I don’t understand what is being done, why, unless it’s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.”
Washington had been reeling since Trump hit the deal. Fingers pointed to government officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand if they were being misled about Trump’s position.
“To be abandoned now, after the president’s own person has negotiated something that the president doesn’t want, it’s just … it’s surprising,” Kinzinger said.
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