The day before Christmas, House Republicans and Democrats went toe-to-toe on the stimulus and spending bills, particularly over the removal of foreign aid, blocking each other’s “unanimous consent” requests and leaving the bill’s future unclear.
On Thursday (Dec. 24), House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) made a request to send $2,000 relief checks to Americans. He said the Democrats’ request is “consistent” with Trump‘s.
But Democrats have not addressed Trump’s request to remove foreign aid from the bill.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night (22) raised questions and dissatisfaction with the contents of the $2.3 trillion coronavirus (Chinese Communist Party virus) stimulus bill and the omnibus spending bill. In a public video, he said the $600 relief check for Americans in the version of the stimulus bill passed by Congress was too small and should be changed to $2,000.
He also called for the removal of “wasteful and unnecessary” spending from the bill (Trump singled out foreign aid to several countries and other programs unrelated to the epidemic for funding).
Trump said, “A few months ago, Congress began negotiations on a new package to provide much-needed help to the American people.” “But the bill they now plan to send to my desk is very different from what was expected. It’s a real shame.”
On the other hand, Republican Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Okla.) made a request to reevaluate foreign aid in light of the president’s public comments on Tuesday.
Bipartisan communication on these issues was brief and inconclusive.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who presides over the House floor, rejected Hoyer’s and Wittman’s requests Thursday. She said that under House guidelines, legislation cannot be considered by unanimous consent unless approved by bipartisan House and committee leadership.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) then issued a statement Thursday saying she will call House members back to the floor next Monday to vote on a bill that would raise the COVID-19 stimulus payment to $2,000.
Pelosi also tweeted Wednesday, “Mr. President, sign the bill to keep the government open! Urge (Senate Majority Leader) McConnell and McCarthy (House Minority Leader) to agree to the unanimous Democratic demand for a $2,000 direct payment! This can be done by noon on Christmas Eve!”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) responded to Pelosi’s statement Wednesday night (23) by announcing that Republicans will submit their own unanimous consent request for foreign aid.
In his remarks, McCarthy said that in the days leading up to Christmas, Speaker Pelosi tried to use the American people as leverage and used the stimulus bill to pave the way for government foreign aid, which included elements that would also allocate billions of dollars to aid foreign countries when money is desperately needed at home.
He added that House Democrats appear to be being selectively biased, and they are quite consistent in ignoring the president’s expressed concern that “we should re-examine how our tax dollars are being spent overseas while many of our neighbors at home are struggling to break even. Therefore, Republicans will make a unanimous request to re-examine government foreign aid so that the immediate concerns can be adequately addressed.”
McCarthy told lawmakers on a conference call Wednesday that he has spoken with the president and it is unclear whether he will ultimately sign the stimulus aid and spending bill.
President Trump expressed his displeasure with unnecessary foreign aid Tuesday (22) when he revealed a possible veto of the stimulus and spending bill, “It’s a disgrace. Take this 5,000-page bill that no one in Congress has read because of its length and complexity. It is called the COVID (Chinese Communist Virus) Relief Act, but it has almost nothing to do with COVID (Chinese Communist Virus). This bill contains $85.5 million for aid to Cambodia, $134 million for aid to Burma, and $1.3 billion for aid to Egypt and the Egyptian military.” The president said the Egyptian military is going to buy “almost all Russian military equipment.” He said.
Trump also complained that large amounts of money are being apportioned to agencies that appear to have nothing to do with the U.S. fight against the Chinese Communist virus.
Recent Comments