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WASHINGTON – Millions of Americans battling the pandemic faced loss of unemployment benefits Sunday when President Donald Trump maintained his refusal to sign a massive COVID relief bill passed by Congress.
The delay also threatened to cause a government shutdown on Tuesday, as the aid package is part of a larger spending bill, although lawmakers could pass another temporary extension to keep the government open.
Two federal unemployment benefit programs approved in March as part of an initial COVID relief plan expired at midnight on Saturday, isolating about 12 million Americans, according to think tank The Century Foundation.
The $ 900 billion aid package overwhelmingly approved by Congress on Monday after months of negotiations would expand those benefits, as well as others that will expire in the next few days.
But the day after the bill was passed, Trump shattered all hopes that legislators’ delayed efforts produced, calling the bill “shameful” in a video posted on Twitter and noting that he would not sign it.
He lobbied for the direct payments of $ 600 to US taxpayers detailed in the bill to be tripled, arguing that the legislation included overspending on unrelated programs.
He did not say why he waited until the bill was passed to make his views known.
Since his Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump reiterated his concerns in a Twitter post on Saturday.
President-elect Joe Biden, who will be sworn in on January 20 after beating Trump in the November election, warned Saturday of “devastating consequences” if the incumbent continued his refusal.
‘Chaos and misery’
Trump had not commented on Sunday and some Republicans urged him to change course, noting that the bill was the result of a painstaking compromise.
“I understand that you want to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is that you will be remembered for chaos, misery and erratic behavior if you allow this to expire,” Republican Sen. Pat Toomey said on Fox News Sunday.
Trump has not explicitly said whether he will veto the bill.
In theory, Congress could override his veto, though it’s unclear whether Republicans would choose to challenge him to that point.
Another option would be for Trump to simply do nothing, resulting in a “pocket veto,” as the current session of Congress must end and a new one will begin on January 3.
Democrats in Congress on Thursday sought to pass a measure to increase direct payments in line with what Trump wants, but Republicans blocked it.
It was seen largely as a theatrical move designed to expose the gap between Republicans and the outgoing president with little hope of approval.
Senator Bernie Sanders said Sunday that “what the president is doing right now is incredibly cruel.”
“Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits,” he told ABC.
“They are going to be evicted from their apartments because the moratorium on evictions is ending.”
Sanders urged Trump to sign the bill and said larger direct payments could be approved in the coming days. – AFP
