Tom Reed, a Republican Party spokesman, told CNBC Thursday that President Donald Trump’s last-minute opposition to the congressional-approved coronavirus relief package earlier this week is hurting troubled Americans.
The $ 900 billion bill, coupled with a government funding measure, was passed with veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate. But Tuesday night, Trump attacked the package as a “misfortune” and demanded numerous changes, including direct payments of $ 2,000 instead of $ 600.
“When you raise these issues at the last minute like that, it’s very troubling,” Reed told “Squawk Box” before his fellow Republicans blocked a measure to increase direct payments to $ 2,000. “I understand the president’s frustration … but for me, people who go blind and do this at the last second are not conducive because the American people are the losers in this fight.”
Trump has not said whether he will formally veto the bill or not sign it. If he takes the latter route, the bill would die and no action could be taken on a package of aid until the new session of Congress on January 3rd.
The $ 900 billion package would extend an expansion of the pandemic era of unemployment benefits before they expire on Saturday. The provision covers 12 million people. The government could also close on Monday if the legislation does not sign the $ 1.4 trillion legislation.
Trump’s criticisms of the bill have focused, in part, on foreign aid spending that was included in the largest section of government funding.
Reed, a New York Republican who co-chairs the bipartisan Problems Solvers Caucus, said he recognizes Trump’s concerns about foreign aid. However, he said they should not be distracted by the need to provide financial assistance to Americans who have been injured by the pandemic.
“The people for whom we negotiated that $ 900 billion are waiting for that relief,” Reed said. “There are people who are hired on Monday because they are waiting for the Payroll Protection Program. Tens of thousands of people are back at work. I beg the president: please think about these people.”
Minority leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, is expected to propose a new temporary spending bill that would disassociate State Department funding and foreign aid from the larger spending package. Democrats are likely to oppose this plan.
“What we should do is focus on where we agree: $ 900 billion in emergency aid … should go out to today’s people. We all agree. We’ve worked in that. We found common ground, “Reed said. “The idea of increasing checks can be tackled later.”
Representative Josh Gottheimer, who is Reed’s co-chair of the Caucus Solvers Problem, agreed. The New Jersey Democrat said he supports the idea of larger stimulus controls, but did not want to delay the current deal.
“We worked very hard to put this package together and get Democrats and Republicans involved,” Gottheimer said in the same “Squawk Box” interview. “We should sign this legislation and then we should add to it … but it doesn’t make sense to exploit the whole thing and hurt people and undermine all the provisions of this legislation, which are so critical.”
The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.