Why Trump may not sign COVID-19 stimulus package for Americans

*If President Donald Trump does not sign the legislation by December 28, 2020, US Government funding would lapse after midnight that day, after the Administration previously had endorsed the Congress bipartisan deal

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In what many say appears to be a denial of ‘critical’ socio-economic relief for millions of American workers, families and businesses amid the hard-hitting novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, outgoing United States President Donald Trump reportedly has injected confusion into the outlook for COVID-19 relief, demanding changes to the bipartisan legislation approved by Congress less than 24 hours earlier.

The US President in a surprise video announcement via his verified Twitter account Tuesday, called the $900billion stimulus bill a “disgrace”, agency report stated.

According to him, the bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill is full of “wasteful and unnecessary” items.

Trump He demanded that lawmakers increase the stimulus checks due to go out to most Americans to $2,000, from the “ridiculously low” amount of $600.

“I am asking Congress to amend this bill,” Trump said. “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.”

The reported condemnation of Monday’s legislation, which included $900 billion in relief along with $1.4 trillion in government funding through next September 2021, marked a sudden change after the administration had endorsed frantic negotiations among Congressional leaders to get a deal after months of deadlock.

If the President doesn’t sign the legislation by December 28, 2020, government funding would lapse after midnight that day.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, earlier Tuesday, had applauded the relief package, tweeting that it would provide “critical economic relief for American workers, families and businesses.”

Likewise, Trump himself tweeted on December 17, that “Stimulus talks looking very good.”

Though Trump Tuesday night didn’t specify whether he would veto the measure, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to Trump’s video message, saying she welcomed his call for $2,000 checks for most Americans.

Pelosi tweeted: “Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks.

“At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 —Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!”

House Democratic leaders, according to two people familiar with their thinking, plan to offer a separate bill during a pro forma session Thursday that would replace references to $600 in the legislation passed Monday with $2,000.

Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, tweeted Tuesday night that she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York “have the amendment ready. Send the bill back, and we will put in the $2,000.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted that the President should sign the current bill “to help people and keep the government open and we’re glad to pass more aid Americans need.”

If Trump vetoes or declines to sign the measure, it would suspend benefits from the previous COVID relief bill that expire at the end of the month, including a moratorium on evictions and extended unemployment insurance ─all of which were addressed in the giant package approved Monday night.