Trump attacked the $ 900 billion bipartisan package in a video he sent to Twitter on Tuesday night and suggested he not sign the legislation. He called on lawmakers to increase direct payments for most Americans from $ 600 to $ 2,000 for individuals and $ 4,000 for couples.
Following a number of provisions in the draft, including foreign aid, he told lawmakers to “get rid of wasteful and unnecessary articles in this legislation and send me an appropriate bill”.
Look: In the video on Twitter, Trump suggests that he will not sign the COVID law
Trump has not specifically vowed to veto the bill, and there may be enough support for congressional legislation to replace it if he does. But if Trump were to change the extended legislation, the consequences would be severe, including no federal aid to struggling Americans and small businesses, and no additional resources to help distribute the vaccine. In addition, as lawmakers linked the pandemic emergency bill to a global funding measure, the government will close on December 29th.
The aid package was part of a compromise bill, which includes $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other priorities at the end of the session, such as money for money-hungry transit systems, an increase in the benefits of food stamps and about $ 4 billion to help other nations provide a COVID-19 vaccine to their people.
Lawmakers spent months in a stalemate over pandemic relief funds, even as COVID-19 cases rose across the country. Democrats have pushed for higher payments to Americans, but have compromised with Republicans to allow an agreement to be reached.
After Trump’s interjection, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi all dared Trump’s Republican allies in Congress to respond to the president’s request for much higher payments.
“Finally, the president agreed to $ 2,000. Democrats are ready to bring this to the floor this week with unanimous agreement. Let’s do that!” Pelosi said in a tweet. A nurse said she would present the proposal on Thursday for a vote.
Republicans have been reluctant to spend more on easing the pandemic and have agreed to the big year-end package as time has run out for a final deal. And Senate Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, said “Trump needs to sign the bill to help the people and keep the government open,” and Congress will step up for more help after that.
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Trump’s call for changes in legislation will test his influence over a Republican party over which he has tight control throughout his presidency. Several Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have begun to carefully break with Trump and acknowledge his defeat of President-elect Joe Biden, a step Trump has refused to take. McConnell warned Republicans against holding the Jan. 6 election, when Congress must officially state the results.
Shortly after criticizing the bill, Trump challenged McConnell and Sen. John Thune, a Republican in the no. 2, who also said that any effort to overthrow Biden’s victory would be futile. Trump has said he will face a primary challenge for Thune when he is re-elected in 2022.
Trump’s threats to support the pandemic legislation could also complicate things for Republicans in Georgia, where two elimination rounds will be held in January to determine Senate control. Sense. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler ran as ardent supporters of Trump and will now face questions about whether to support his call for more money for Americans.
Jon Ossoff, Perdue’s Democratic opponent, wrote on Twitter simply on Tuesday night: “$ 2,000 checks now.”
The aid package was advanced on Monday afternoon and passed through the House and Senate in a few hours, while lawmakers were working on closing this year’s books. While many lawmakers have complained that they have been given so little time to read the bill, they have voted overwhelmingly because local businesses and voters are seeking economic relief from the pandemic.
The Senate eliminated the huge aid package with a vote of 92-6, after the House approved it with another differentiated vote, 359-53. These totals of votes would be enough to overturn a veto if Trump decides to take this step.
After months of partisanship and a policy to alleviate the pandemic, the logjam erupted after Biden urged his party to accept a compromise with top Republicans, which is smaller than many Democrats would have liked.
The aid bill that Trump criticizes would set an additional $ 300 temporary weekly benefit for unemployment and a $ 600 direct payment for most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for severely affected businesses, restaurants and theaters and money for schools, healthcare providers and tenants facing eviction.
Earlier, Biden applauded lawmakers for their work. He described the package as far from perfect, “but it provides vital relief at a critical time.”
He also said that more relief will be needed in the coming months. “We have our first clue and a look at bipartisanship,” Biden said. “In this election, the American people have stated that they want to go down the aisle and work together.”
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