President Donald Trump has used the power of the executive order for several reasons. Just in 2020, Trump signed executive orders to invoke the Defense Production Act to speed up the manufacture of medical equipment during the coronavirus outbreak, increase the protection of historic monuments during demonstrations, and dictate a specific architectural style for federal buildings. However, Trump did not use an executive order to give a direct payment of $ 2,000 to Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats have called for the latest economic stimulus bill to include $ 2000 direct payments, instead of the currently approved $ 600 stimulus checks. Many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle support the idea. Trump publicly endorsed the concept and challenged lawmakers to approve the higher amount.
“$ 2000 ASAP!” Trump tweeted Wednesday.
The reasoning for Trump’s inaction on signing an executive order to provide the extra money to Americans is simple: he is not exercising authority.
Article 1 Article 8 of the U.S. Constitution, commonly known as the Expenditure Clause, confers on Congress the power to collect taxes, duties, levies and excise duties to pay the debt and provide for the common defense and the general welfare of the United States. State. “
In other words, Congress has the “Power of the Purse”. Another round of stimulus checks must be approved by Congress and signed before being sent. Under the Constitution, Trump cannot sign an executive order that will send more stimulus payments to Americans.
Newsweek reached the House Committee on the budget for comment.
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Although a measure to increase direct payments to $ 2,000 passed the House on Monday, the measure may never succeed in the Senate. House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected to a stand-alone bill that would approve the larger checks, and on Tuesday decided to introduce a new proposal linking $ 2,000 direct payments to others. issues with which the Democrats disagree.
McConnell’s proposal, along with the $ 2,000 stimulus tests, also includes the repeal of section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which would protect the legal protection of social media platforms that provide third-party material that may be considered controversial. remove. McConnell’s proposed legislation would also create a commission to investigate Trump’s unfounded allegations of voter fraud.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a press conference on Wednesday criticized McConnell’s decision to block the stand-alone vote on the $ 2,000 stimulus checks.
“These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for others’ grief,” Pelosi said. ‘We call on Mitch McConnell to stop his obstacle and bring the legislation to the floor of the Senate. And we urge the Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so. ‘
McConnell stood his ground against the legislation proposed by Democrats, saying during Floor’s remarks that the bill “has no realistic way” to bypass the Senate.
“The Senate is not going to be bullied into chasing more borrowed money into the hands of the wealthy friends of the Democrats who do not need the help,” McConnell said.