On Saturday, millions of Americans had their unemployment insurance expire following the U.S. President Donald Trump declined to sign a pandemic relief and investment plan worth $2.3 trillion into legislation, protesting that it did not do enough to help ordinary people.
When he said this week that he was disappointed with the huge package, which includes $892 billion in desperately needed coronavirus relief, including the continuation of special unemployment insurance expiring on Dec. 26, and $1.4 trillion, Trump shocked Republicans and Democrats alike
According to Labor Department reports, without Trump’s signature, around 14 million persons might miss those extra benefits. A partial government closure will begin on Tuesday unless a stop-gap government spending measure can be agreed by Congress before then.
Republicans and Democrats committed to the package last weekend, with the blessing of the White House, after months of wrangling. Trump, who handed control on Jan. 20 to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, did not object to the provisions of the arrangement until
But since then, he has argued that the bill gives special groups, cultural programs and international assistance too much funding, while the one-time $600 stimulus checks have become too small for millions of poor Americans. He asked that it be increased to $2,000.
“Why would politicians not want to give people $2,000, rather than only $600?…Give our people the money!”Why would politicians not want to give people $2,000, rather than only $600?…Give the money to our people!
Many economists accept that the assistance for the bill is too poor, but claim that urgent help is still welcome and needed.
Trump’s objection to the bill took many White House officials by surprise, said a source familiar with the case. Although the bill’s policy for the current president is uncertain, he has not vetoed it and may also sign it in the coming days.
He was expected to stay in Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, where the bill was submitted and pending his verdict. Biden, whose election win Trump declines to recognize on Nov. 3, is enjoying the holiday in his home state of Delaware and has no Saturday public appearances planned.
