In the latest political debacle, Donald Trump has made his opposition of the recently passed COVID-19 relief bill known, causing a stir among politicians.
The President, who is set to relinquish his role to President-elect Joe Biden at the top of 2021, stated that the direct payments of $600 that are supposed to be distributed to Americans in the upcoming weeks should instead be $2,000.
“I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple,” Trump said in a video posted to Twitter.
Trump went on to request that in place of the relief bill in which he referred to as a “disgrace,” Congress provide a revised aid package that will compensate the American people, along with a revision of the overly massive proportion attributed to special interest agendas.
Although Trump is calling for $2,000 direct payments, most Republicans have opposed creating a larger stimulus package. Meanwhile, Democrats are ready to unanimously approve the increase.
“If the President truly wants to join us in $2,000 payments, he should call upon Leader McCarthy to agree to our Unanimous Consent request,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, referring to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Even if the House approves the revised bill, it is possible that the Senate may not. The government faces a shutdown this upcoming Tuesday if legislation doesn’t pass, approving distribution of the $1.4 trillion umbrella aid that mainly serves to relieve the overall economic downturn facing the federal government, special interest and international affairs.
The delay of passing the relief bill into legislation could also incite a series of averse effects on the American people, including the stoppage of unemployment insurance and expiration of the federal eviction moratorium preventing landlords from evicting people.