White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow appeared extremely confused by the executive actions signed by President Donald Trump over the weekend to extend unemployment benefits, and on Sunday repeatedly claimed that unemployed Americans would receive much more money that Trump’s orders say .
Amid a stalemate between Democrats and Republicans over coronavirus incentives, the president sought to end a potentially illegal endeavor by issuing a series of orders from his New Jersey golf course. One action extended the weekly unemployment bonus, reducing the amount to $ 400 and requiring states to play 25 percent of the benefits. It is unclear how many states can pay them to pay their share of the bonus.
During a lengthy and controversial CNN interview on Sunday morning, Kudlow immediately insisted that the order would place at least twice as much money as the order claims, State of the Union host Dana Bash surprised and amazed.
“We have tried to get it through the Democratic House for, I do not know, two or three times. And it will be a form of economic assistance, most likely you will receive $ 800 in total, federal and state, ”Kudlow explained. “And if we get it Sept. 1, which is what the deadline looks like, it will likely give the employee an increase in pay.”
Bash, meanwhile, asked about the new $ 800 amount, asking Kudlow to suddenly raise it $ 400 again.
$ 1,200. Now, we’ll place at least $ 300 and the states will continue with their $ 400, “he exclaimed.” But I think all they have to do is set up an extra dollar and we can hand in the extra $ 100. “That should be – can not be in any case, because, as you know, we talk on average. Some states higher, some states lower. But on average, Dana, it will run up to about $ 800.”
The CNN host shot back, pointing out that the Trump aide was “talking about some other money I didn’t know about,” while the executive action note says $ 400 with the states kicking $ 100.
‘Well, we’ll be ready to use it again if states insert a little more is all that comes up. At the moment, that number is about $ 700, “Kudlow replied.” I think they come to 800. Some states can get positive 800. The key point here is that it is a salary increase, Dana, of about $ 1,200 for the last four months of the year. That’s a big payoff. ”
After giving visitors a ‘reality check’, Bash finally checking on the legality of the order, Kudlow recalled that he had previously said that only Congress could extend the unemployment benefits, prompting the White House official to ask him to “no lawyer,” he was “probably speaking out of turn.”
After Kudlow again insisted that unemployed Americans receive $ 1,200, Bash interviewed: ‘You always say $ 1,200 per person. Are you talking about next to the unemployment they are already getting? “
‘Oh, no. That’s the payment title – I beg your pardon. $ 1,200 will come from the tax bill, “Kudlow replied, referring to the president’s claim that he would establish a payroll tax holiday by the end of the year.
‘Okay. We’ll get there, ‘said Bash. “Because there are a lot of numbers here and it’s a little confusing.”
Kudlow then once again claimed that unemployed workers would receive $ 800 in additional benefits, prompting Bash to ask if he meant $ 800 or $ 400.
“It should be $ 800. If the states step up, we are ready to agree, that should come from $ 400 federal, $ 400 states, “he replied, despite the executive order not to say such a thing.
“We’ll go on because I think this is not what the president said and it’s a little confusing, and I think the fact that it’s not fully known is not very telling,” Bash said, essentially throwing up her hands. .
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