Trump calls Democratic demands 'ridiculous' as blame traded over virus aid stalemate

[webfact]

Trump calls Democratic demands 'ridiculous' as blame traded over virus aid stalemate

By Steve Holland and Susan Cornwell

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic response at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 12, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump accused congressional Democrats on Wednesday of not wanting to negotiate over a U.S. coronavirus aid package because he was refusing to go along with "ridiculous" spending requests unrelated to the pandemic.

 

Trump's comments came after top Republican and Democratic negotiators traded blame for a five-day lapse in talks over relief legislation.

 

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Trump's chief negotiator, disputed a statement from the two top Democrats in Congress that Republicans had sought more talks but refused any movement on their initial $1 trillion offer, which is less than a third of what the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed in a measure in May.

 

"An overture was made by Secretary Mnuchin to meet and he made clear that ... the White House is not budging from their position concerning the size and scope of a legislative package," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement.

 

"We have again made clear to the administration that we are willing to resume negotiations once they start to take this process seriously," they said in the statement.

 

Mnuchin in response claimed Pelosi "was unwilling to meet to continue negotiations unless we agreed in advance to her proposal, costing at least $2 trillion."

 

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump zeroed in on Democratic requests to support mail-in voting for the November elections and the U.S. Postal Service. Trump has frequently said mail-in voting would lead to widespread fraud, a notion not supported by data.

 

"Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are holding the American people hostage over money for their radical left-wing agenda that the country doesn't want and won't accept," he said.

 

Talks between the White House and top Democrats in Congress over a U.S. coronavirus aid package remained stalled on Wednesday, with neither side budging. This report produced by Chris Dignam.

 

"The bill's not going to happen because they don't even want to talk about it, because we can't give them the kind of ridiculous things that they want that have nothing to do with the China virus," Trump said.

 

Schumer last week said Democrats had suggested the White House negotiators meet halfway. The $1 trillion proposal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell met immediate opposition both from Democrats and some of his fellow Republicans, who are opposed to additional spending.

 

The pandemic has taken a particularly heavy toll on the United States, where it has killed more than 164,000 people, more than any other country. Millions of U.S. workers have lost jobs, and the expiration last month of $600 in weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefits is expected to take a further toll.

 

Talks on a new package broke down last Friday. Sticking points include the size of an extended unemployment benefit, aid to state and local governments, and money for schools to reopen.

 

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found that Americans divide blame pretty evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Susan Heavey in Washington; Additional reporting by David Lawder and Susan Cornwell in Washington; Writing by David Morgan and Tim Ahmann; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-13

 

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[Matzzon]

The only thing ridiculous here is Trump and Pelosi.

[Thailand]

8 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

The only thing ridiculous here is Trump and Pelosi.

I agree, apart from Pelosi.

[scammed]

i think immoral is the word, pelosi wants to add another 2 trillion

to future generations bill, for the sake of getting a few more votes

from clueless selfish peasants

[bunnydrops]

'ridiculous'

Trump wants to put money in it to rebuild the FBI building across from one of his hotels. The FBI building was going to be moved to another location and the property was to be sold. Trump was afraid someone would buy it and build another hotel.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-28/trump-s-bid-for-fbi-building-money-draws-bipartisan-scorn

[LomSak27]

2 minutes ago, scammed said:

clueless selfish peasants

Just let it out.      It is good for conservatives to get off their chest, how they really feel about over sixty per cent of americans and for that matter, a whole passel of Trumps base.

[2 is 1]

I think hole USA system is ridiculous! 2 different idea party fighting and never agree nothing! Hole coundry suffer.

 

 

[Tug]

51 minutes ago, scammed said:

i think immoral is the word, pelosi wants to add another 2 trillion

to future generations bill, for the sake of getting a few more votes

from clueless selfish peasants

No I disagree what worries me is a lot of folks are going to lose their homes with the interest rate near 0 the 1%ers are in a good position to reap a further windfall besides trumps tax giveaway to the rich I’m concerned that a lot of this is beeing engineered to benefit the wealthy 

[scammed]

18 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

Just let it out.      It is good for conservatives to get off their chest, how they really feel about over sixty per cent of americans and for that matter, a whole passel of Trumps base.

i am not a republican or american, but the only option has completely lost sanity,

even trump & republicans is the better of the two.

like 2 is 1 said, your system is corrupt in spite of your constitution,

your leaders are invariably spineless immoral career seekers.

the intent of the founders was stewardship,

to strive to setup for future generations,

that is now in complete reverse

[mrfill]

1 hour ago, scammed said:

i think immoral is the word, pelosi wants to add another 2 trillion

to future generations bill, for the sake of getting a few more votes

from clueless selfish peasants

Whereas... 'Since President Trump took office in 2017, US debt has increased from $19.9 trillion to $22.7 trillion (Sep 2019). This is a 2.8 trillion increase in two and half years. This is the fastest increases in dollar terms on record.'

 

https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/160723/economics/government-borrowing-under-trump-2017-20/

 

 

[scammed]

Just now, mrfill said:

Whereas... 'Since President Trump took office in 2017, US debt has increased from $19.9 trillion to $22.7 trillion (Sep 2019). This is a 2.8 trillion increase in two and half years. This is the fastest increases in dollar terms on record.'

 

https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/160723/economics/government-borrowing-under-trump-2017-20/

 

 

yes, the last decent president was clinton,

i hope an incorruptible economist without ties to either party or

arm twisters or media influencers gets the next two presidencies

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, scammed said:

i think immoral is the word, pelosi wants to add another 2 trillion

to future generations bill, for the sake of getting a few more votes

from clueless selfish peasants

Yes.  How dare she try to sway Trump supporters.

[Boon Mee]

 Pelosi will not only throw a spanner in the works to thwart relief getting to the people she'll toss in the whole toolbox. 

[Sujo]

Shouldnt trump be getting ready to go on the first tee?

[Bluespunk]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump zeroed in on Democratic requests to support mail-in voting for the November elections and the U.S. Postal Service.

Oh the horror, the horror, those ******* democrats want to make sure the mail in voting system works more effectively. 
 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump has frequently said mail-in voting would lead to widespread fraud, a notion not supported by data.

That’s because it is a false claim.

[Thailand]

Trump now has more important issues to deal with.

 

Apparently the pressure from the shower head when he is washing his orange locks is insufficient and this pressing issue takes precedent.

[Bluespunk]

19 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Trump now has more important issues to deal with.

 

Apparently the pressure from the shower head when he is washing his orange locks is insufficient and this pressing issue takes precedent.

The man is the epitome of narcissism 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/12/us-shower-pressure-trump-hair-water?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, 2 is 1 said:

I think hole USA system is ridiculous! 2 different idea party fighting and never agree nothing! Hole coundry suffer.

 

 

Note that budget negotiations have been mostly between House Democrats and White House officials. Senate Republicans are missing in action for the last two months other than to stonewall any progress. Seems more of a 3-party system.

[timendres]

8 hours ago, mrfill said:

Whereas... 'Since President Trump took office in 2017, US debt has increased from $19.9 trillion to $22.7 trillion (Sep 2019). This is a 2.8 trillion increase in two and half years. This is the fastest increases in dollar terms on record.'

 

https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/160723/economics/government-borrowing-under-trump-2017-20/

 

Last I checked, Congress approves the budget, as well as the borrowing.

[johnnybangkok]

8 hours ago, mrfill said:

Whereas... 'Since President Trump took office in 2017, US debt has increased from $19.9 trillion to $22.7 trillion (Sep 2019). This is a 2.8 trillion increase in two and half years. This is the fastest increases in dollar terms on record.'

 

https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/160723/economics/government-borrowing-under-trump-2017-20/

 

 

The only thing Trump has actually done in 3 1/2 years in office; a big tax deduction for himself, his mates and corporations at the expense of $3 trillion on the national debt. 

Now that this money is really needed, all we here from Trump fans is 'what about the national debt!'

You couldn't make this hypocracy up.

[chilli42]

10 hours ago, Matzzon said:

The only thing ridiculous here is Trump and Pelosi.

Agree completely.  I can only imagine the pork barrel add on’s that both sides want.  Shame on both parties.

[riclag]

4 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

 Pelosi will not only throw a spanner in the works to thwart relief getting to the people she'll toss in the whole toolbox. 

She is selfish ! She's a evil political hack! She showed that when she ripped up the state of the union address transcript in front of the nation!

[riclag]

2 hours ago, johnnybangkok said:

The only thing Trump has actually done in 3 1/2 years in office; a big tax deduction for himself, his mates and corporations at the expense of $3 trillion on the national debt. 

Now that this money is really needed, all we here from Trump fans is 'what about the national debt!'

You couldn't make this hypocracy up.

But why support states that have given millions to causes that conservatives don't support ,like radical broad brush state spending . Would all of their stimulas funds go toward workers and businesses that have suffered under the covid shutdown,! I don't think so! 

If the radical dems want to fund their causes do it under different legislation ,debate it on the floor of ...

[riclag]

4 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

Oh the horror, the horror, those ******* democrats want to make sure the mail in voting system works more effectively. 
 

That’s because it is a false claim.

The radical dems want some of that stimulus money  to be used for the USPS for mail in voting!

https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/489113-democrats-press-stimulus-funding-boost-mail-in-voting

The letter R the letter K had issues with election judges in FLA while counting votes!  Threw out many! IMOP why open up a can of worms!There were and are many issues in the past with standard  in poll voting !Why complicate it even more! Why add fuel to further divide!

 

Some states never used mail in ballots (not to be confused with absentee distribution of ballots which are already vetted)!

"Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah — currently conduct elections almost entirely by mail. 

The rest of the states can be divided into two categories: those that allow any registered voter to apply for mail-in ballots, and those that require an excuse".

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/501577-heres-where-your-state-stands-on-mail-in-voting

 

Yet votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth, statistics show.

Election officials reject almost 2 percent of ballots cast by mail, double the rate for in-person voting.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/us/politics/as-more-vote-by-mail-faulty-ballots-could-impact-elections.html

[Bluespunk]

13 minutes ago, riclag said:

The radical dems want some of that stimulus money  to be used for the USPS for mail in voting!

https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/489113-democrats-press-stimulus-funding-boost-mail-in-voting

The letter R the letter K had issues with election judges in FLA while counting votes!  Threw out many! IMOP why open up a can of worms!There were and are many issues in the past with standard  in poll voting !Why complicate it even more! Why add fuel to further divide!

 

Some states never used mail in ballots (not to be confused with absentee distribution of ballots which are already vetted)!

"Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah — currently conduct elections almost entirely by mail. 

The rest of the states can be divided into two categories: those that allow any registered voter to apply for mail-in ballots, and those that require an excuse".

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/501577-heres-where-your-state-stands-on-mail-in-voting

 

Yet votes cast by mail are less likely to be counted, more likely to be compromised and more likely to be contested than those cast in a voting booth, statistics show.

Election officials reject almost 2 percent of ballots cast by mail, double the rate for in-person voting.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/us/politics/as-more-vote-by-mail-faulty-ballots-could-impact-elections.html

None of the above proves fraud and nothing you say negates approving funding to improve postal system and improve efficiency of mail in voting.  

[riclag]

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

None of the above proves fraud and nothing you say negates approving funding to improve postal system and improve efficiency of mail in voting.  

Wow you read all my sources already! Good job!

[Bluespunk]

12 minutes ago, riclag said:

Wow you read all my sources already! Good job!

Yes. It wasn’t that hard. 

[Scott]

Off-topic posts and replies removed along with posts with inflammatory representations of politicians.

 

[candide]

10 hours ago, timendres said:

 

Last I checked, Congress approves the budget, as well as the borrowing.

Right! When Trump introduced tax cuts, there was a GOP majority at the House.

[Tug]

12 hours ago, riclag said:

She is selfish ! She's a evil political hack! She showed that when she ripped up the state of the union address transcript in front of the nation!

Trumps latest ploy is to hold the post office funding hostage as a ploy to federal aid to desperate Americans no sir the evil is obviously trump desperately trying to rigg the election