WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) – President Donald Trump signed a $ 900 billion pandemic aid package on Sunday evening, ending dramatic days for his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that it will deliver cash for a long time to businesses and individuals and prevent a federal government from closing down the government.
The massive bill includes $ 1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other priorities at the end of the session, such as money for cashless transit systems and an increase in the benefits of food stamps. .
The signing, at his private club in Florida, came after a day of vocal criticism by Republicans and Democrats over his objections to the bipartisan deal, which was approved by the House and Senate by a wide margin, with lawmakers who believed they had Trump’s support. Their eleven-hour demands, including a push for greater relief checks and reduced spending, had blinded members on both sides. Its subsequent drag led to a drop in unemployment benefits for millions struggling to get the two heads and threatened the government’s shutdown amid a pandemic.
The signing of the bill prevents another crisis from the creation of Trump and puts an end to the conflict with his own party during the last days of his administration.
It was unclear what Trump had accomplished with his delay, beyond empowering Democrats to push for higher controls opposing his party. In a statement, Trump reiterated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill to provide only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 his fellow Republicans rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary government spending in general.
“I will sign the nmnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes it clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,” Trump said in the statement.
While the president insisted he would send Congress a “redefined version” with elements that should be removed in the termination process, these are just suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, will not necessarily be amended.
Lawmakers now have room to breathe to continue debating whether relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and will vote Monday on the issue, but the Republican Senate is expected to ignore where spending faces opposition. For now, the administration can only start working by sending the $ 600 payments.
Republicans and Democrats quickly welcomed Trump’s decision to sign the bill.
“The compromise bill isn’t perfect, but it will benefit a lot of Kentuckians and struggling Americans across the country who need help now,” said Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader. R-Ky. “I thank the president for signing this relief on the law.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, called the signing “welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost their lives on unemployment benefits over the Christmas weekend and for to the millions more who struggle to stay afloat during this historic economic crisis and pandemic. ”
But others criticized Trump’s delay in turning the bill into law. In a tweet, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va, accused Trump of having “played Russian roulette with American lives. A familiar and comfortable place for him ”.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., said he would offer Trump’s proposal for $ 2,000 checks to vote in the Senate, putting Republicans in place.
“The House will pass a bill to give Americans $ 2,000 in checks. Then I will go on to pass it in the Senate,” Schumer tweeted. “No Democrat will oppose. Senate Republicans?”
Democrats promise more help when President-elect Joe Biden arrives, but Republicans indicate a wait-and-see approach.
Faced with growing economic hardship, the spread of disease, and the impending halt, lawmakers on Sunday had urged Trump to sign the legislation immediately and then get Congress to continue with additional help. Aside from unemployment benefits and benefits to families, there was money for the distribution of vaccines, businesses and more. Protections against evictions also remained in balance.
“What the president is doing right now is incredibly cruel,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “It simply came to our notice then. … It’s really crazy and this president has to finally … do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about their ego. “
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood Trump “wants to be remembered for defending great controls, but the danger is that he will be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows it to expire.”
Toomey added, “So I think the best thing to do is, as I said, sign it and then defend the subsequent legislation.”
The same point was echoed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican who criticized Trump’s pandemic response and his efforts to undo the election results. “I just gave up guessing what I could do next,” he said.
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said there is too much at stake for Trump to “play this old switcheroo game.”
“I don’t get the point,” he said. “I don’t understand what is being done, why, unless it’s just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.”
Washington had been spared since Trump initiated the deal. Fingers pointed to administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand if they were wrong about Trump’s position.
“Now, to be shattered, after the president’s own person has negotiated something the president doesn’t want, it’s just – it’s amazing,” Kinzinger said.
Kinzinger talked about CNN’s “State of the Union” and Hogan and Sanders on ABC’s “This Week.”
___
Mascaro and Taylor reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in New York contributed to this report.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.