Millions of Americans lose jobless benefits as Trump refuses to sign aid bill

By Steve Holland and Richard Cowan

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump departs on travel to West Point, New York from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2020. REUTERS/Cheriss May/File Photo

 

PALM BEACH, Fla/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Millions of Americans saw their jobless benefits expire on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump refused to sign into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, protesting that it did not do enough to help everyday people.

 

Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike when he said this week he was unhappy with the massive bill, which provides $892 billion in badly needed coronavirus relief, including extending special unemployment benefits expiring on Dec. 26, and $1.4 trillion for normal government spending.

 

Without Trump's signature, about 14 million people could lose those extra benefits, according to Labor Department data. A partial government shutdown will begin on Tuesday unless Congress can agree a stop-gap government funding bill before then.

 

After months of wrangling, Republicans and Democrats agreed to the package last weekend, with the support of the White House. Trump, who hands over power to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20, did not object to terms of the deal before Congress voted it through on Monday night.

 

But since then he has complained that the bill gives too much money to special interests, cultural projects and foreign aid, while its one-time $600 stimulus checks to millions of struggling Americans were too small. He has demanded that be raised to $2,000.

 

"Why would politicians not want to give people $2,000, rather than only $600?...Give our people the money!" the billionaire president tweeted on Christmas Day, much of which he spent golfing at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

 

Many economists agree the bill's aid is too low but say the immediate support is still welcome and necessary.

 

A source familiar with the situation said Trump's objection to the bill caught many White House officials by surprise. While the outgoing president's strategy for the bill remains unclear, he has not vetoed it and could still sign it in coming days.

 

On Saturday, he was scheduled to remain in Mar-a-Lago, where the bill has been sent and awaits his decision. Biden, whose Nov. 3 electoral victory Trump refuses to acknowledge, is spending the holiday in his home state of Delaware and had no public events scheduled for Saturday.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland in Mar-a-Lago and Richard Cowan in Washington; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Delaware; Writing by Michelle Price; Editing by William Mallard)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-26

 

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Makes no sense at all: first demand certain things get included, then sent one of your most trusted people out to negotiate. Don't get involved at all anymore, and when everything is said and done complain about the inclusions you specifically requested, complain that the amount received it too little, so block it to make sure people get nothing, not even their regular payments.

The House and Senate both have over 75% support for the bill and dont actually need his signature if they just have the balls to see it through especially as Trump only has around 24 days left in office .

and to think millions of working class people voted for this clown.

Thank god he is leaving soon.

11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Why would politicians not want to give people $2,000, rather than only $600?...Give our people the money!" the billionaire president tweeted

Why not give them $20,000? 
 because it all has to be paid back with interest one day. 
By the taxpayers. Which doesn’t include this draft and tax dodger.
 

As a multiple bankrupt he doesn’t understand that. He literally owes thousands of contractors etc money. Owes ordinary hard working people thousands, threatens them with lawyers, wears them down to accept cents in the dollar and forces them to sign confidentiality agreements.
 

But somehow he is popular with working class Americans. 
 

What I find truly astonishing is that  74.2 million Americans actually voted in favour of this maniac in the presidential elections.

 

What were they thinking?

 

Good riddance Trump and all who surround you.

7 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The House and Senate both have over 75% support for the bill and dont actually need his signature if they just have the balls to see it through especially as Trump only has around 24 days left in office .

Trump just wants to use "pocket veto" neither sign nor veto. He can gum up with that process for  10 days, 10 days of attention on him, which is always his #1 goal. Congress will have to wait til around Jan 4th with this clown's "will he or won't he?" antics.

Anyone who still thinks Trump is for average American should check self into mental hospital: shelter and food at least.

22 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Without Trump's signature, about 14 million people could lose those extra benefits, according to Labor Department data. A partial government shutdown will begin on Tuesday unless Congress can agree a stop-gap government funding bill before then.

Maga

8 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The House and Senate both have over 75% support for the bill and dont actually need his signature if they just have the balls to see it through especially as Trump only has around 24 days left in office .

Congress can’t  initiate the veto override as the petulant one hasn’t formally veto the bill. He just in his grouchy mood and no nothing which is affecting millions and a possible government shutdown. He got till Monday to declare his stance while millions of unemployed struggle last few days. Meanwhile he is playing golf and feasting with family and close allies. The tyranny of the minority over the majority who don’t want him as President. 

Not sure there's anyone to talk him down? Is Ivanka with him? Pretty sure Jared did a runner to the Middle East - maybe to distance from his Dad's pardon? Jared's children are probably the only people who can say Grandpa pardoned Grandpa?

 

Let's hope all his golf partners give him as many mulligans as he needs to feel good about himself?

 

 

Edited December 26, 20205 yr by mtls2005

3 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Not sure there's anyone to talk him down? Is Ivanka with him? Pretty sure Jared did a runner to the Middle East - maybe to distance from his Dad's pardon? Jared's children are probably the only people who can say Grandpa pardoned Grandpa?

 

Let's hope all his golf partners give him as many mulligans as he needs to feel good about himself?

 

 

He doesn't need Mulligans, he's a notorious golf cheat. Big surprise, I know!

I'm sure the Trumps won't go hungry!

IMO Trump had no intention of paying out anything in support, the $2000 he proposed was just another lie to justify his veto. Keeps the attention on him, but may cost the Republicans dearly in Georgia.

It's really up to the Republicans to abandon Trump, and go bipartisan with the Democrats so Trump's veto is meaningless.

Well, my dear American friends, that’s your president ‘hard at work’ for you. Throwing a spanner in the works for these benefits, threatening the country with a shutdown, and then having a couple dozen hissy fits on twitter again and flying off to Florida to play some more golf. What a great guy! 

34 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, maybe it is time to get the money from China to pay for their disease

Maybe you should learn about how atrocious Trump's incompetence was before you start assigning the blame elsewhere:

The Inside Story About How Trump's Denial, Mismanagement, and Magical Thinking led to the Pandemic's Dark Winter:

How Trump’s denial and mismanagement led to the covid pandemic’s dark winter - Washington Post

 

45 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, maybe it is time to get the money from China to pay for their disease

Chine didn't make a complete mess of the USA Corona response. Self inflicted wounds by an incompetent president. 1/3 of the worldwide active cases by a country which has only 1/20 th of the world population. MAGA alright, number 1 by far.

I'm glad the president is holding out for $ 2k checks for all Americans...that's an extra 4k into my household. He's always draining the D.C. swamp and sticking up for real Americans

Edited December 26, 20205 yr by Pattaya Spotter

3 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I'm glad the president is holding out for $ 2k checks for all Americans...that's an extra 4k into my household. He's always fighting the D.C. swamp creatures and sticking up for real Americans

Especially grateful will be all those Americans about to lose unemployment benefits and wind up on the streets because of last minute principled stand. 

And then there's this from Peter King, a retiring Congressman and a staunch defender of Trump:

 

Trump doubles down $2,000 coronavirus check demand

On the other side of the aisle, one of the president's frequent defenders, retiring GOP Rep. Peter King of New York wrote a lengthy Facebook post explaining that the line items in the bill objected to by the president were "specifically requested by the Trump administration."

"You got that -- every item," King wrote. "That includes aid to Egypt, Pakistan, Burma, Sudan and Central America, and funding for the Smithsonian."

Trump doubles down $2,000 coronavirus check demand | Fox News

 

14 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Especially grateful will be all those Americans about to lose unemployment benefits and wind up on the streets because of last minute principled stand. 

And then there's this from Peter King, a retiring Congressman and a staunch defender of Trump:

 

Trump doubles down $2,000 coronavirus check demand

On the other side of the aisle, one of the president's frequent defenders, retiring GOP Rep. Peter King of New York wrote a lengthy Facebook post explaining that the line items in the bill objected to by the president were "specifically requested by the Trump administration."

"You got that -- every item," King wrote. "That includes aid to Egypt, Pakistan, Burma, Sudan and Central America, and funding for the Smithsonian."

Trump doubles down $2,000 coronavirus check demand | Fox News

 

He's just playing 3 dimensional chess (4?) with these Congressional grinches. 

27 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I'm glad the president is holding out for $ 2k checks for all Americans...that's an extra 4k into my household. He's always draining the D.C. swamp and sticking up for real Americans

Then why didnt he negotiate it. The dems wanted it. He didnt.

6 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

He's just playing 3 dimensional chess (4?) with these Congressional grinches. 

Chess? I'm afraid you're over-estimating him again. Trump is more of a checkers kinda guy.

6 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Then why didnt he negotiate it. The dems wanted it. He didnt.

I believe it was the Congressional Senate Republicans, not the President, who didn't want 2k checks...that's why it's not in the final bill.

6 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Chess? I'm afraid you're over-estimating him again. Trump is more of a checkers kinda guy.

Three dimensional checkers then. 

46 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I'm glad the president is holding out for $ 2k checks for all Americans...that's an extra 4k into my household. He's always draining the D.C. swamp and sticking up for real Americans

He's not holding out for more money for Americans.  He's duping you guys into getting more money for his super pac.  Mitch said it was a no go for the extra money weeks ago.

 

MAGA people aren't very smart.

16 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

Chess? I'm afraid you're over-estimating him again. Trump is more of a checkers kinda guy.

I think he prefers color by numbers.

12 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I believe it was the Congressional Senate Republicans, not the President, who didn't want 2k checks...that's why it's not in the final bill.

A pity that he didn't have someone representing him, like, say Steve Mnuchin, as a party to the negotiations. Oh wait...

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Yes, maybe it is time to get the money from China to pay for their disease

I dont think Sean Hannity could have spewed that out any better himself.....sad

5 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

I believe it was the Congressional Senate Republicans, not the President, who didn't want 2k checks...that's why it's not in the final bill.

According to many savvy commentators  .. both press pundits and politicians Trump did not want to get involved with the negotiations at all. Not venture an opinion.

 

Not interested. Bored with it. Too busy playing golf.  And tweeting his rigged election childish nonsense.  The likely outcome well signposted what Mitch was wanting.

 

HIS party .. that he could have influenced if he could be bothered wanted the figure the bill produced. 

 

Dems wanted 2,000. Republicans got their way. 

 

The man baby only then shows interest probably as he thinks he can get more attention.

 

 

6 minutes ago, placeholder said:

A pity that he didn't have someone representing him, like, say Steve Mnuchin, as a party to the negotiations. Oh wait...

I believe he did...but Congress writes the bills not the president (Civics 101) so the 2k didn't make it in it. Trump is exercising his power to not sign the bill (maybe later actually veto it) to pressure Congress to improve it. It's called "politics."

5 minutes ago, PAWNEESE said:

According to many savvy commentators  .. both press pundits and politicians Trump did not want to get involved with the negotiations at all. Not venture an opinion.

 

Not interested. Bored with it. Too busy playing golf.  And tweeting his rigged election childish nonsense.  The likely outcome well signposted what Mitch was wanting.

 

HIS party .. that he could have influenced if he could be bothered wanted the figure the bill produced. 

 

Dems wanted 2,000. Republicans got their way. 

 

The man baby only then shows interest probably as he thinks he can get more attention.

 

 

Not attention, more donations from clueless MAGA people.