The rise in unemployment insurance for millions of Americans expired on Saturday.
Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan criticized President Donald Trump for not raising his objections to the $ 900 billion bipartisan relief bill COVID-19 until after Congress passed it.
“Here we are, you know, after all this work has gone on,” Hogan told ABC News head White House correspondent Jonathan Karl on Sunday “This Week”. “Both parties were so far apart in the House and the Senate. The problem solver convention, some – some really bipartisan people on both sides of the corridor brought everyone to the table. They reached an agreement.”
“Secretary (Steven) Mnuchin worked together with them and made commitments on behalf of the administration, and then – not eight months before or even eight days before, but after it was approved – did the president raise these objections? Millions of people are going suffer, “he added.
The president said on Tuesday that he would not sign it unless stimulus checks were increased from $ 600 to $ 2,000. The expansion of unemployment benefits to millions of Americans expired on Saturday after Trump refused to sign the relief bill COVID-19.
A request by House Democrats to approve a stand-alone bill by sending $ 2,000 stimulus checks was blocked on Thursday by House Republicans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the House would hold a registered vote on the measure on Monday.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was largely silent on the president’s request to tighten stimulus controls.
In “This week,” Karl asked Hogan “why are there no more Republicans facing (the president)?”
“I think more and more are and are going,” said Hogan. “And I can tell you, there is a great deal of concern now. I mean, the Republicans were put in this position, many of them came to support this bill, even though they didn’t like everything that was in it, even though it might not have all the things that we needed. “
“It doesn’t solve all the problems. But it is something ”, he added. “And if the president wants to get more money to help more people, great. Let’s sign this project now so that we can start receiving our unemployment benefits immediately, and then quickly approve another project.”
Hogan also responded to Trump by urging Republicans in Congress to challenge the election results when Congress votes to certify them on January 6.
“Joe Biden is the duly elected president of the United States, whether people like this result or not,” said Hogan on Sunday. “And he is the president-elect. He will take the oath on January 20. And on January 6, which is coming, he will be certified by Congress.”
At the beginning of the interview, Hogan told Karl that he felt Biden had been looking for Republicans, citing meetings that the president-elect had with Democratic and Republican governors.
“He seems to be listening to us and worrying about the things that are important in our state as we go through this, you know, critical fight against the virus and the economic problems that we’re going through,” said Hogan. “So, I hope he moves on.”
As for Trump’s role in the Republican Party after he stepped down, Hogan said things would be different after Induction Day.
“He certainly has an exaggerated voice in the party,” he said. “It will be very different after 20 January, when he is not in a position to exert as much influence as he does now.”
“There are a lot of people who want to be the next Donald Trump, but I will fight to try to return our party to its roots,” added Hogan. “And to become a larger tent party to reach – a more Reagan-style party. More positive and hopeful visions for the future.”