DONALD Trump and Nancy Pelosi are pushing a coronavirus stimulus check increase, which “could send $5,200 to families.”
Trump hinted that he would veto the $900billion stimulus relief bill, which included $600 payment, in a blistering Twitter address on Tuesday, a day after it was agreed.
The president complained that the current deal announced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday was a “disgrace,” complaining that it had “taken forever.”
Pelosi appeared to call Trump’s bluff, saying “let’s do it!” after months of talks with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Republican Party members calling for a smaller package.
In his Twitter video, Trump criticized the bill’s “wasteful spending – and much more” and said it left “hardworking taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments.”
He called the $600 amount “ridiculously low” and said “not enough money is given to small businesses and in particular restaurants whose owners have suffered so grievously.”
The president demanded that Congress strike the “wasteful and unnecessary items” from the bill and called on lawmakers to give individual Americans $2,000 and $4,000 for couples.
If Trump successfully upped the individual payment to $2,000 for individuals and kept the $600 for child dependents, a family of four could pocket over $5,000.
This would delay sending out the coronavirus payments if the bill isn’t signed today however, after Trump reportedly planned to issue his signature “imminently.”
“Send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a Covid relief package and maybe that administration will be me and we will get it done,” he raged during his address.
GOP senators would also have to pass the House measure after previously rejecting a proposal for a $1,200 check for hard-hit Americans.
Pelosi issued a response and pointed out that “Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks,” noting that “at last, [Trump] has agreed to $2,000.”
“Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!” she said.
House Dems will pass this unanimous consent procedure on Christmas Eve, which will approve the $2,000 checks automatically unless a representative objects to the measure.
The bill was passed by 359-53 in the House and 91-7 in the Senate, exceeding he two-thirds needed to override a veto if Trump chooses to do that – but time is the issue.
Trump could wield a rare procedural weapon called a “pocket veto” to keep the bill from becoming law without affording lawmakers the opportunity to override his veto, given it passed in both chambers with large majorities.
This would involve the president keeping the legislation in his “pocket” and refusing to sign it as the end of a Congressional adjournment looms.
Lawmakers passed the relief package late on Monday night as it nears the end of its term.
A president has ten days – excluding Sundays – to either sign or veto a bill according to Under Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution.
Congress has to end its 116th session by 11:59:59 am on January 3, which is known as adjourning sine die.
Any legislation that isn’t law by then is considered dead and has to be raised again during the 117th Congress – so Trump could let the congressional clock run out of time.
The White House still has yet to receive the bulky 5,593-page legislation because the “enrollment” process of going through Congress is still underway before it reaches the president’s desk.
Congress has to get the bill to Trump by December 23 to avoid a pocket veto and they can’t amend the legislation – unless they want to start over.
This would involve drafting an entirely new legislative package that would need to be passed by both chambers of Congress before Trump would see it.
Because this legislation also contains government funding, if it isn’t law by December 28 there will be a shutdown.
The 5,593-page legislation – the longest bill ever – came together Sunday after months of of tense talks between the GOP and Dems.
Trump deemed the $1 billion for the Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art funding, the $25 million to manage the invasive non-native Asian carp, $566 million for FBI construction projects and others to be “wasteful” spending.
Reacting to Trump’s critical video, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer agreed that “House Democrats have fought for months to provide relief to the American people, which Republicans rejected at every turn.”
“Now that the President has agreed to direct payments of $2000, we will ask for unanimous consent to pass a bill this week to give Americans this assistance,” Hoyer tweeted.
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also tweeted her support of Trump’s statements.
“Let’s do it,” she wrote, reiterating Pelosi. “[Re Rashida Tlaib] and I already co-wrote the Covid amendment for $2,000 checks, so it’s ready to go.
“Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation. We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down.”
Trump fan Senator Lindsay Graham initially broke disagreed with Trump’s call for more money, acknowledging that the current bill was “imperfect” but necessary to “save jobs and lives.”
“Appreciate the fact that Speaker Pelosi supports President [Trump’s] idea to increase direct payments to $2,000 per person,” he added later.
“The American people are hurting and deserve relief. I know there is much bipartisan support for this idea,” he continued. “Let’s go further.”
