‘Shameful’: Trump Golfs, Tweets Election looks like 14 million lost unemployment insurance just after Christmas

After threatening to blow up a $ 900 billion coronavirus aid package due to several last-minute demands – one of which is being blocked by his own party – President Donald Trump spent Christmas Eve golf in Florida and tweeting election lies while millions of desperate Americans have been left to spend the holidays worried, they will soon be deprived of their few economic survivals.

If Trump does not sign the newly approved relief measure, about 14 million unemployed Americans will lose unemployment benefits on Saturday, a federal eviction moratorium will expire at the end of the year and billions of dollars in nutritional aid and rent will be left in balance to as new economic metrics make it clear that the recession is far from over.

“Congress must approve $ 2,000 in direct payments and Trump must sign Covid’s relief bill. Otherwise, tens of millions of Americans will lose their unemployment benefits, starve and face eviction.”
– Sen. Bernie Sanders

“Are we going to have to suffer more? You just pray that someone will get their wits back,” said Samara Crockett, a 43-year-old single mother who was fired in September. Washington Post. “I’m in survival mode. Do I get gas or food? What do I do? This is how my days are.”

Emergency unemployment benefits have already been set to expire temporarily due to months of obstruction by the Republican-controlled Senate, but Trump’s last-minute objections to the legislation – which he did not raise during negotiations on the measure – endanger the extent of the $ 300 a week increase in unemployment aid.

If Trump waits until Sunday or later to sign relief legislation, the delay “will effectively cut the length of unemployment programs expiring from 11 to 10 weeks,” Ben Casselman of New York Times noticed.

“Here is the reason: the bill says benefits will not be available for ‘any week of unemployment starting before the date of enactment of this law,'” wrote Casselman. “So if Trump doesn’t sign the law by next week, people won’t be able to receive benefits until the following week. But the benefits’ end date does not change: March 14 (with the phasing out lasting until April 5). Thus, workers would effectively lose a week of benefits. Note that this applies to the $ 300 supplement as well. “

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Who has unsuccessfully fought for higher weekly unemployment payments in the new bill, told the Times that “Trump’s tantrum threatens to cost millions of unemployed workers a week’s income”.

“The ability of millions of Americans to pay rent and buy groceries is at stake, and Donald Trump spent the day playing golf,” said Wyden. “It’s shameful.”

On Thursday, Congressional leaders signed the large 5,600-page package – which includes the coronavirus relief measure and a $ 1.4 trillion general government funding bill – and the White House sent it to Florida for possible president approval. Trump has not decided whether to sign the legislation, which will die on January 3 with the end of the current Congress. The government is expected to close on December 29.

“It is time for Trump to stop bluffing and put his party members on the line so that the government can provide this long-awaited relief to people across the country during this time of great need.”
– Rep. Rashida Tlaib

In Washington, DC, meanwhile, House Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic attempt to pass on the $ 2,000 direct payments that Trump claimed he wanted in a video address launched earlier this week, the day after Congress approved the coronavirus relief package. Trump did not publicly criticize his party members for blocking payments of $ 2,000, which progressives have been defending for months.

“In this holiday season, families are being forced to make incredibly difficult decisions, whether to keep the lights on or buy groceries,” said Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) In a statement on Thursday. “It is time for Trump to stop bluffing and put his party members on the line so that the government can provide this long-awaited relief to people across the country during this time of great need.”

House Democrats are planning to hold a plenary vote on Monday over independent legislation that would replace direct payments of $ 600 currently in the aid bill with $ 2,000 in checks. While the measure is expected to pass the House, it is unclear whether Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Would allow a vote on increased payments.

“Congress must approve $ 2,000 in direct payments and Trump must sign the Covid relief bill,” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweeted Thursday. “Otherwise, tens of millions of Americans will lose their unemployment benefits, starve and face eviction. This would be a level of government cruelty never seen in our lives.”