[ad_1]
President Trump took an absolute sledgehammer to the COVID relief bill just passed by Congress, implying he might veto the legislation and demanding more money for the American people and businesses.
In a video posted to his Twitter page, the President assailed Democrats for playing politics over the summer in avoiding a relief package, taking months to get one worked out, and then producing a dud.
“Throughout the summer, Democrats cruelly blocked COVID relief legislation in an effort to advance their extreme left-wing agenda and influence the election,” Trump said.
“Then, a few months ago, Congress started negotiations on a new package to get urgently needed help to the American people. It’s taken forever,” he continued. “However, the bill they are planning to send back to my desk is much different than anticipated.”
Trump noted how the bill was passed despite the fact that “nobody in Congress has read (it) because of its length and complexity.”
“It’s called the COVID relief bill, but it has almost nothing to do with COVID.”
The President proceeded to rattle off a massive list of pork and special interest gifts that were added to the relief package adding, “The bill also allows stimulus checks for the family members of illegal aliens, allowing them to get up to $1,800 each.”
As has been referenced on these pages, the American people will be getting checks valued at one-third that amount.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020
Support Conservative Voices!
Sign up to receive the latest political news, insight, and commentary delivered directly to your inbox.
RELATED: Lawmakers Brag About COVID Relief Bill With $600 Checks To The American People – They Should Be Ashamed
President Trump Wants The American People To Benefit From The Relief Bill
President Trump’s address is just another example of how he is the adult in the room fighting for the American people while Congressional members are selfishly trying to horde cookies for themselves.
He fights for the American people. Not himself. Not for certain groups. The people.
To reiterate:
Handing out money isn’t the answer, but if the government is going to do it in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, it sure as hell better be more than $600, and the bill should only focus on struggling Americans and businesses.
In the end, as we argued on these very pages, this isn’t about money from the government, it’s about the government preventing people from earning money.
Through no fault of their own people have been prevented from earning a living by governments – particularly those run by Democrat governors or Democrat mayors, but also some Republicans.
So the government needs to give those people some of their own taxpayer money back in times of crisis.
“Despite all of this wasteful spending and much more, the $900 billion package provides hard-working taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments and not enough money is given to small businesses and in particular restaurants, whose owners have suffered so grievously,” Trump continued.
The President then called for Congress to up the ante.
“I’m asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” he challenged.
“I’m also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a COVID relief package.”
JUST IN: President Donald Trump set to veto the Covid relief bill, @Stinchfield1776 reports. https://t.co/VlT7z8v2lm pic.twitter.com/vJGKMW1TIM
— Newsmax (@newsmax) December 23, 2020
RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard Savages $600 Stimulus Checks In COVID Relief Bill: ‘Slap In the Face To Americans’
Congress Responds To Trump’s Demands
Perhaps picking up on growing anger across the country that they’ve allowed the American people a pittance in response to a major economic crisis, lawmakers seemed to embrace the President’s demands.
Even his harshest critics.
“Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tweeted. “At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 – Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!”
Pelosi, perhaps the biggest snake in a den full of vipers known as Congress, is the biggest reason this relief bill is such a sham, having admitted that she refused to accept a larger stimulus package prior to the election.
Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks. At last, the President has agreed to $2,000 — Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it! https://t.co/Th4sztrpLV
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 23, 2020
Contrary to Pelosi, the President repeatedly voiced support for a larger relief package with larger stimulus checks for the American people months ago.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), in response to the President’s video, tweeted “Let’s do it,”
“@Rashida Tlaib and I already co-wrote the COVID amendment for $2,000 checks, so it’s ready to go,” she added. “Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation. We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down.”
Let’s do it. @RashidaTlaib and I already co-wrote the COVID amendment for $2,000 checks, so it’s ready to go.
Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation.
We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down. https://t.co/GprwrUPali pic.twitter.com/nFFs1ExqCK
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 23, 2020
Some Republicans are on board as well.
“[President Trump] is right – workers deserve much more than $600, as I have repeatedly said [and] fought for,” Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted.
“And there’s obviously plenty of [money] to do it – look at what Congress threw away on corporate giveaways [and] foreign buyouts. Let’s get it done.”
.@realDonaldTrump is right – workers deserve much more than $600, as I have repeatedly said & fought for. And there’s obviously plenty of $$ to do it – look at what Congress threw away on corporate giveaways & foreign buyouts. Let’s get it done
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) December 23, 2020
In the end, none of this will make a major impact on those affected by the pandemic the most from an economic standpoint.
As Senator Rand Paul recently said, “The only thing that can save us is opening the economy.”
[ad_2]
Source link
