Trump Signs COVID Relief Despite Misgivings
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed a massive 2.3 trillion dollar coronavirus relief and spending package, averting a government shutdown, despite calling it a “disgrace.”
The measure expanded unemployment benefits and an eviction moratorium for millions of Americans.
The package includes $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September. It contains other end-of-session priorities such as money for cash-starved transit systems and increased food stamp benefits.
Democrats promise more aid to come once declared President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach. Had Trump continued his opposition to signing the bill, the federal government would have run out of money at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Trump signed the spending package and $900 billion COVID relief after growing pressure from lawmakers.
“What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel,” said independent Senator Bernie Sanders earlier. “So many people are hurting. … It is insane, and this president has got to finally … do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.”
DEMANDING MORE PAYMENTS
Trump had opposed the measure saying he wanted to raise the number of direct payments the COVID stimulus package should provide to Americans.
“Made many calls and had meetings at Trump International in Palm Beach, Florida,” he wrote on social networking site Twitter. “Why would politicians not want to give people $2000, rather than only $600? It wasn’t their fault; it was China. Give our people the money!”
Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses, cash-starved public transit systems, and more was on the line. Protections against evictions also hang in the balance.
Republican Senator Pat Toomey said he understood that Trump “wants to be remembered for advocating for big checks.” But he added that “the danger is he’ll be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.”
Toomey added: “So I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make a case for subsequent legislation.”
Trump’s signature came late and it was not immediately clear whether the president would make new proposals for more relief before the presidential inauguration on January 20.