The deal also provides $ 1.4 billion to government agencies until September to fund and includes other priorities at the end of the session, such as an increase in food stamp benefits.
Sunday’s signing at his private club in Florida comes as he receives increasing criticism over his eleven-hour demands for larger, $ 2,000 relief tests and reduced spending, even though the bill has already passed by large margins by the House and Senate. The bill was passed with what lawmakers say was Trump’s blessing, and after months of negotiations with his government.
His footsteps led to the unemployment benefits lapse for millions and the government had to be stopped under the pandemic. But the signing of the bill prevents another crisis of Trump’s own creation and ends a disagreement with his own party during the last days of his government.
It was unclear what Trump, if anything, had accomplished with his delay, except that he angered all sides and empowered Democrats to continue raising higher relief, which his own party opposes.
In his statement, Trump reiterated his frustrations over the COVID-19 relief bill to deliver only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 his fellow Republicans had already rejected. He also complained about what he saw as unnecessary spending by the government in general.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes it clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
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While the president insisted that he send a new version of the Congress to Congress with items that had to be removed during the recall process, these are only proposals to Congress. The bill, as signed, will not necessarily be changed.
Democrats, who have the majority in the House, immediately promised to prevent cuts. Democrats “will reject the withdrawals” submitted by the president, said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, chairwoman of the Allocation Committee.
Legislators now have room to breathe to continue debating whether the aid should be as large as the president demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and will vote on the issue on Monday, but it is expected to be ignored by the Republican-led Senate. For the time being, the administration can only start sending out the $ 600 payments.
The Republican Rep. Alabama’s Mo Brooks, a Conservative who supported Trump’s extraordinary and futile challenge of the election results, counted himself among opponents of a broader relief package and Trump’s call for higher payments on Monday.
“It’s money we do not have, we have to borrow to get and we can not afford to pay it back,” he told Fox and Friends. ‘Someone has to show me how we’re going to pay for it. How far before we all go into debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy? ‘
But Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York said she was open to the idea of $ 2,000 checks. “Many Americans need a lot of relief,” she said on the program.
All Republicans and Democrats quickly welcomed Trump’s decision to sign the bill.
“The bill for the compromise is not perfect, but it will do a tremendous amount of good for struggling Kentuckies and Americans across the country who now need help,” Senate Leader Mitch McConnell told R-Ky. “I thank the president for signing this legal aid.”
House President Nancy Pelosi, D-California, calls the signing ‘welcome news’ for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas weekend, and for the millions of people struggling to stay afloat during this historic and economic pandemic. crisis. “
Others have voiced Trump’s delay in passing the bill. In a tweet, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Trump for “playing Russian roulette with American lives.” A familiar and comfortable place for him. ‘
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said he would present Trump’s proposal for $ 2,000 checks to a Senate vote, which puts Republicans on the spot.
“The House will accept a bill to give Americans $ 2,000 checks,” Schumer tweeted. “Then I will move to pass it in the Senate.” He said no Democrats would object to that. “Will the Republicans of the Senate?”
Democrats promise more help will come once President Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans point to a wait-and-see approach.
Congress will continue Monday, expecting the House to vote to overrule Trump’s veto of an annual defense bill, and confront the president in the final days of the session with another major issue. The Senate is expected to follow Tuesday.
In light of the growing economic hardship, the spread of disease and an impending strike, lawmakers on Sunday urged Trump to sign the legislation immediately and then follow up Congress with additional assistance. Apart from unemployment benefits and assistance to families, there was money for the distribution of vaccines, businesses and more. Protection against evictions also hangs in the balance.
“What the president is doing right now is incredibly cruel,” Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Said of Trump’s delaying tactics before the president signed the law. “So many people are hurting … 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 Sen. Pat Toomey said he understands that Trump “wants to be remembered for advocating for great control, but the danger is that he will be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he lets it lapse.”
Toomey added: “I think it’s the best thing to do, as I said, to sign it and then make the case for subsequent legislation.”
Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger said there was too much at stake for Trump to “play this old switcheroo game.”
“I do not understand the point,” he said. “I do not understand what is being done, why, unless it’s just creating chaos and showing power and being upset because you lost the election.”
Washington has cracked since Trump turned on the deal. Fingers pointed to administration officials, including Finance Minister Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Trump’s position.
“To sit in the fray now, after the president’s own person has negotiated something the president does not want, is just that – it’s amazing,” Kinzinger said.
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