US President Donald Trump threatens to veto Covid 19 aid bill

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night (US time) threatened to torpedo the huge Covid-19 aid package from the US Congress amid a raging pandemic and deep economic uncertainty, suddenly demanding changes other Republicans have opposed.

Trump denounced the $ 900 billion package as “a disgrace” in a video he tweeted Tuesday night suggesting he could not sign the legislation. He called on lawmakers to increase direct payments for most Americans from $ 600 to $ 2,000 for individuals and $ 4,000 for couples.

After protesting against a number of provisions of the bill, including foreign aid, he told lawmakers to “get rid of the unnecessary and wasteful articles of this legislation and send me a proper bill.”

Trump did not specifically commit to vetoing the bill, and there may be enough support for legislation in Congress to overturn it if he does. But if Trump were to change the sprawling legislation, the consequences would be dire, including a lack of federal aid for struggling Americans and small businesses, and no additional resources to help with vaccine distribution.

Also, because lawmakers tied the pandemic relief bill to a blanket funding measure, the government would close on December 29.

The aid package was part of a hard-fought compromise bill that includes $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other priorities at the end of the session, such as money for cashless transit systems, an increase in food stamp benefits and approximately $ 4 billion to help other nations provide a Covid-19 vaccine for their people.

Lawmakers spent months stuck over funding for pandemic relief, even as Covid-19 cases soared across the country. Democrats had pushed for higher payments to Americans but pledged with Republicans to allow a deal to proceed.

Following Trump’s interjection, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged Trump’s Republican allies in Congress to meet the president’s demand for much higher pay.

“At long last, the President accepted $ 2000. Democrats are ready to take this to the floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!” Pelosi said in a tweet. An aide said she would present the proposal for a vote on Thursday.

Other Democratic lawmakers were quick to join her, challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to accept Trump’s demand.

Republicans have been reluctant to spend more on pandemic relief and only accepted the big year-end package as time ran out for a final deal.

Trump’s call for changes in the legislation will test his influence in a Republican Party that he has had tight control over during his presidency.

Several Senate Republicans, including McConnell, have begun to cautiously break with Trump and acknowledge their defeat to President-elect Joe Biden, a step Trump has refused to take.

Trump’s threat to delay anti-pandemic legislation could also complicate matters for Republicans in Georgia, where two second-round races will be held in January to determine control of the Senate.

Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler have run as ardent Trump supporters and will now face questions about whether they will back his call for more money for Americans or instead side with other Republicans in the Senate.

The Senate approved the huge aid package by 92-6 votes after the House passed it by another lopsided vote, 359-53. Those vote totals would be enough to override a presidential veto if Trump decided to take that step.

Earlier in the day, Biden said the package was far from perfect, “but it provides vital relief at a critical time.” He also said that more relief would be needed in the coming months.

“We have our first inkling and glimpse of bipartisanship,” Biden said. “In this election, the American people made it clear that they want us to walk down the aisle and work together.”