Filenews 26 December 2020
Millions of Americans are now seeing their unemployment benefits expire, as US President Donald Trump refuses to approve the $2.3 trillion package. to deal with the economic impact of the new crowning pandemic and government spending, complaining that it is not enough to help ordinary people.
Specifically, he complains that the bill offers too much money for special purposes, funding cultural institutions or helping foreign countries, while the $600 benefits provided as support to Americans are too small.
Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats this week when he said he was not happy with that bill, which includes providing $892 billion in financial support. Eur 1.4 trillion to deal with the effects of the pandemic - including the extension of the special unemployment benefits, which expired on 26 December - as well as EUR 1.4 trillion. dollars for the government's regular expenditure. Without Trump's signature, about $14 million would have been used to fund the project. people may lose extra benefits, according to Ministry of Labour data.
From Tuesday, the partial shutdown of federal agencies (or shutdown) will begin unless Congress manages to agree by then on a GOP temporary funding bill. After months of consultation, Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement on the package last weekend, with the White House involved in the negotiation.
Trump, who transferred power to President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, did not oppose the terms of the deal before it was passed in Congress On Monday night.
But he has since complained that the bill offers too much money for special purposes, funding cultural institutions or helping foreign countries, while the $600 benefits provided as support to Americans are too small.
Trump has called for that amount to be raised to $2,000 per person. "Why don't politicians want to give people$2,000 instead of just $600?(...) Give the money to our people!" the billionaire President said in a Twitter post on Christmas Day, which he spent mostly playing golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach (Florida).
Many economists agree that the assistance offered by the bill is very small, but point out that direct support continues to be welcome and necessary.
A source with knowledge of the situation said Trump's objections to the bill surprised many white house officials. While the outgoing President's strategy on the bill to stimulate the economy remains unclear, Trump has not vetoed the measures and is still likely to sign it in the coming days.
On Saturday, he was scheduled to remain at Mar-a-Lago, where the bill has been sent pending its decision. Biden, whose election victory in the November 3 election continues to be denied by Trump, spends the holiday days in his hometown of Delaware state and has no public events on his schedule today.
Source: eyenews
