Donald Trump urged Democrats to reach an agreement on a coronavirus relief package that extends the unemployment increase of $ 600 per week since Republicans were unable to reach their own agreement just 24 hours before benefits expire.
“We want a temporary extension of expanded unemployment benefits,” Trump told reporters at the White House during a coronavirus briefing.
“I want to thank Republicans in the Senate for fighting to extend unemployment benefits today in the face of heavy obstruction from Democrats, which surprises me,” the president continued.
Trump also promised that he would push for Congress to include in the fourth COVID-19 stimulus package another round of checks for Americans, similar to the $ 200 checks circulated and signed by the president earlier this year.
“We need Democrats to join us in approving additional financial aid payments for American citizens,” Trump said, putting responsibility on the opposition party. “Like the payments sent directly to 160 million Americans earlier this year, it was a tremendously successful program.”
He added: “This money will help millions of working families survive.”
Republicans spent the week trying to pass their proposal before the improved benefits of $ 600 expired on Friday, but between the infighting and failed negotiations between the White House and Democrats, no compromise was reached.
“I ask Congress to pass additional legislation to support Americans who need it,” said Trump.
“I am not very optimistic that we will have some kind of agreement on a comprehensive bill in the near future,” White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday.
“I’m not even optimistic about next week,” he added.
Donald Trump wants the next coronavirus stimulus package to include an extension to a weekly increase in unemployment benefits due Friday. “We want a temporary extension of expanded unemployment benefits,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
Trump blamed Democrats for blocking the latest proposal for Republican legislation. “I want to thank Republicans in the Senate for fighting to extend unemployment benefits today in the face of heavy obstruction from Democrats, which surprises me,” he said.
Another $ 1,200 round of checks: The President wants a second round of direct checks to be mailed. “We need Democrats to join us in approving additional financial aid payments for American citizens,” he urged.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell presented the $ 1 trillion Republican stimulus package on Monday afternoon, but negotiations stalled quickly.
The plan includes reducing the temporary increase in unemployment from $ 600 a week from previous coronavirus legislation to $ 200. In both cases, people still receive unemployment benefits at the state level.
The Republican Party’s goal is also to eliminate the flat rate increase 60 days after its approval, and then limit benefits to 70 percent of pre-coronavirus individual wages.
Tens of millions of Americans could see their incomes drop from 50 to 75 percent when the boosted weekly benefits expire on Friday.
Meadows revealed Wednesday: “We are not close to a deal.”
Trump revealed during his press conference on Thursday that he also wants the next package to include $ 105 billion to reopen schools, a temporary detention of evictions for those who cannot afford the rent, and an extension of interest and deferment of payments. of student loans.
While Democrats, Republicans, and the White House have expressed their will to reach an agreement and expressed urgency in this regard, neither appears to be willing to compromise on certain key points, including what to do with the improved unemployment insurance provisions that expire.
Shortly after McConnell unveiled the Republican package from the Senate on Monday, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi criticized the proposal.
“Why are you arguing over $ 600 when people need that to buy food and pay the rent?” the California Democrat lamented.
Republicans were quick to strike a deal when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s proposal was reprimanded by conservative conservatives and hard-line Democrats this week.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (left) and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows (right) spent the past week in a Capitol Hill meeting with Republicans and Democrats to negotiate a compromise.
Democrats do not want to accept the Republican proposal to cut the increase in unemployment benefits from $ 600 a week to $ 200, while many in the Republican Party do not want to approve another $ 1 trillion package overall.
Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spent the past week negotiating with Republicans on Capitol Hill on behalf of the President.
While Trump doesn’t care about high-price tag stimulus bills, there are plenty of tax conservatives who won’t be joining another radical stimulus package.
Republicans opposed to large government spending, such as Senators Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Rand Paul, reveal that at least 50 percent of Republican lawmakers will not vote for any radical new legislation.
While Meadows wants to make Republican demands stand out in the bill, Mnuchin, who has a history of successful negotiations with Democrats, is determined to strike a deal with the opposition party.
Mnuchin and Meadows have met with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for three days in a row and are expected to hold talks again on Thursday.
Over the weekend and earlier this week, the White House duo met with Republicans to try to reach an agreement between the fighting within the party to provide much-needed economic relief to Americans amid the pandemic. prevailing.
The expiration of the rising unemployment comes as the death toll in the US reaches 150,000 and there are more than 4.4 million confirmed cases amid a recent surge in the sunbelt.
States that experienced sudden increases, such as Florida, Texas and southern California, were forced to reestablish partial or, in some cases, complete blockages, which favored economic struggles between the populations of those regions.
When the coronavirus crisis hit and the nation began blockades and orders to stay home, millions were suspended or out of work, either temporarily or permanently. The unemployment and unemployment figures reached a record high.
While McConnell’s proposal appears dead on arrival, with Democrats and Republicans rebuking the measure, other Republican lawmakers are seeking to compromise on their versions.
Senator Mitt Romney presented his proposal Wednesday night and Senator Ron Johnson will present his own proposal later Thursday, as lawmakers rush to agree on something before the benefits expire.
The coronavirus pandemic launched the United States into the largest unemployment crisis in the history of recorded unemployment statistics, leaving millions out of work, either temporarily or permanently.
Romney’s plan would prioritize improving pay for essential workers earning less than $ 90,000, rather than increasing unemployment and further incentivizing people not to return to work.
Johnson’s proposal would give Americans 66 percent of their wages, or some other amount less than the previous $ 600 boost.
Other Republicans are likely to come up with their own proposals to tackle the unemployment insurance issue on Thursday.
The Republican proposal would include another round of $ 1,200 aid checks for Americans.
“You have to come to an agreement, a much larger number than that of the Senate Republicans, and somewhat less than that of the House Democrats who can be reached before Friday,” said a senior official at the administration, according to Politico.
‘There is a satisfactory PPP extension for Democrats, funding [community development financial institutions], protection from eviction of tenants, “continues the official.
McConnell’s bill also included a second round of $ 1,200 relief checks for Americans, a move Republicans were sure would appease Democrats.
The package, announced Monday, would also allocate $ 100 billion for schools as the president pushes for them to reopen in the fall.
During a closed-door lunch with Republican senators on Capitol Hill Tuesday afternoon, Meadows, accompanied by Mnuchin, said he had no problem saying ‘no’ to Pelosi and Schumer’s demands.
“I feel comfortable saying ‘no’ and being the skunk at the garden party,” Meadows insisted.
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