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Millions of Americans battling the pandemic lost their unemployment benefits this Sunday, being even more exposed to the severe economic crisis, while President Donald Trump is reluctant to sign the comprehensive aid bill passed by Congress.
Their resistance also threatens to cause a government shutdown, or “shutdown,” as of Tuesday, as the support package is part of larger legislation that includes funding from the federal state. To keep the government running, parliamentarians could approve another temporary extension.
Two federal programs that included benefits for the unemployed, approved in March as part of the initial relief plan in the face of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, expired at midnight on Saturday, leaving out 12 million Americans, according to the estimate of the progressive think tank The Century Foundation.
The $ 900 billion stimulus package approved by Congress on Monday, after months of tough negotiations, would extend those grants, as well as others that are due to expire in the coming days.
But the day after its approval, Trump put an end to the hopes raised after lengthy negotiations in Congress, claiming that this legislation is a “shame”, in a video posted on Twitter where he announced that he was not going to sign her.
The outgoing president demanded several amendments and pushed for the Checks destined for taxpayers with greater economic difficulties will be increased to more than triple the amount initially stipulatedand. He also criticized that the plan included too many expenses for programs that had nothing to do with the pandemic.
He did not say, however, why he waited until the text was approved to make his views public.
Since his Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump reiterated his criticism in a Twitter message on Saturday.
President-elect Joe Biden, who is due to take office on January 20 after beating Trump in the November elections, warned on his side on Saturday about the “Devastating consequences” for millions of citizens in difficulties if the outgoing president does not sign the huge package.
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