The agreement also provides $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities, such as an increase in food stamp benefits.
The signing on Sunday at his private club in Florida came as he faced mounting criticism of his last-minute demands for relief checks over $ 2,000 and reduced spending, although the bill had already passed the House and Senate. by a wide margin. The bill passed with what lawmakers thought was Trump’s blessing, and after months of negotiations with his government.
Its slowness has resulted in a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions and has threatened a government shutdown amid a pandemic. But signing the bill avoids another crisis of Trump’s own creation and ends an impasse with his own party during the final days of his administration.
It was unclear what Trump achieved with his delay, if anything, besides irritating all sides and empowering Democrats to continue their effort for more relief measures, which his own party opposes.
In his statement, Trump repeated his frustration with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $ 600 checks to most Americans, instead of the $ 2,000 that his Republican colleagues have already rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary government spending in general.
“I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes it clear to Congress that useless items need to be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
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Although the president insisted that he would send Congress “a checked version” with items to be removed in the termination process, these are only suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed.
Democrats, who have a majority in the House, immediately promised to avoid any cuts. Democrats will “reject any termination” submitted by the president, said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
Lawmakers now have room to breathe to continue debating whether relief checks should be as large as the president demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is expected to vote on the issue on Monday, but is expected to be ignored by the Republican-controlled Senate, where spending faces opposition. For now, the administration can only start working with sending the $ 600 payments.
Republican MP Mo Brooks of Alabama, a conservative who supported Trump’s extraordinary and futile challenge to election results, considered himself on Monday among opponents of a more generous aid package and Trump’s call for higher payments.
“It’s money we don’t have, we have to borrow to get it and we can’t pay it,” he said in “Fox and Friends”. “Someone has to show me how we are going to pay for it. How long before we all go into debilitating bankruptcy and insolvency?”
But Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York said she was open to the idea of $ 2,000 checks. “Many Americans desperately need help,” she said on the program.
In all, both Republicans and Democrats quickly welcomed Trump’s decision to turn the bill into law.
“The compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do enormous good for Kentucky and American fighters who need help now,” said Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “I thank the President for signing this relief as a law.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Called the signature “good news for the fourteen million Americans who lost unemployment insurance over the Christmas weekend and for the millions struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis. “
Others criticized Trump’s delay in turning the bill into law. In a tweet, Deputy Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Accused Trump of “playing Russian roulette with American lives. A familiar and comfortable place for him”.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said he would offer Trump’s $ 2,000 check proposal for a Senate vote – putting Republicans in doubt.
“The House is going to pass a bill to give Americans checks for $ 2,000,” tweeted Schumer. “Then I will propose approval in the Senate.” He said no Democrats would object. “Will the Senate Republicans?”
Democrats are promising more help when President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach.
Congress will move forward on Monday, with the House expected to vote to overturn Trump’s veto of an annual Defense bill, confronting the president on another major issue in the closing days of the session. The Senate is expected to follow on Tuesday.
In the face of growing economic difficulties, the spread of disease and an imminent strike, lawmakers spent Sunday urging Trump to sign the legislation immediately and then Congress to follow up with additional help. In addition to unemployment benefits and family aid payments, money for vaccine distribution, business and more was at stake. Protections against evictions were also at stake.
“What the president is doing now is incredibly cruel,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Of Trump’s delaying tactic before the president signed the law. “So many people are suffering … It’s really crazy and this president has to finally … do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.”
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump “wants to be remembered for defending big checks, but the danger is that he will be remembered for chaos, misery and erratic behavior if he allows it to expire.”
Toomey added: “So, I think the best thing to do, as I said, is to sign this and then defend the subsequent legislation.”
Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said there was a lot at stake for Trump “playing that old trading game.”
“I don’t understand,” he said. “I don’t understand what is being done, why, unless it’s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.”
Washington has been staggering since Trump did the deal. Fingers pointed to government officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were mistaken about Trump’s position.
“Now, to get in trouble, after the president’s own person negotiated something the president doesn’t want, it’s just – it’s surprising,” said Kinzinger.
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