COVID relief bill morphs into test of GOP loyalty to Trump
Threatening WASHINGTON — to tank Congress’ massive COVID relief and government funding package, President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger aid checks for Americans confronts Republicans traditionally leery of such spending with an uncomfortable test of allegiance.
OnThursday, House Democratswho also favor $2,000 checks all but dared Republicans to breakwith Trump, calling up his proposal for a ChristmasEvevote. Thepresident’s last-minute objection could gum up critical legislation amid a pandemic and deep economic uncertainty. His attacks risk a federal government shutdown by early next week.
“Justwhen you think you have seen it all,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote Wednesday in a letter to colleagues.
“Theentire countryknows that it is urgent for the President to sign this bill, both to provide the coronavirus relief and to keep government open.”
Although House Democrats say theywanted larger checks, just two Democrats (Tulsi GabbardofHawaii and Rashida Tlaib of Minnesota) voted against the stimulus package with $600 checks.
Republicans led by Senate MajorityLeader MitchMcConnell have resisted $2,000 checks as too costly. They have not said if they will block the vote.
The president’s last-minute objections are setting up a defining showdown with his ownRepublican Party in his final days in office.
Trump’s push to increase direct payments for most Americans from $600 to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples splits the party with a politically painful loyalty test, including for GOP senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, fighting to retain their seats in the Jan. 5 special election in Georgia.
Republican lawmakers traditionally balk at big spending and many never fully embraced Trump’s populist approach. Their political DNA tells them to oppose a costlier relief package. But now they’re being asked to stand with the president.
GOP leaders were silent Wednesday, with neither McConnell nor Rep. KevinMcCarthy, the House minority leader, responding to requests for comment.
JonOssoff, Perdue’sDemocratic opponent, tweeted simply on Tuesday night: “$2,000 checks now.”
As Congress left town for the holidays, the year-end package was part of a hardfought compromise, a massive 5,000-plus page bill that includes the COVID aid and $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and address other priorities.
The relief billwould establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit, along with a new round of subsidies for hardhit businesses, restaurants and theaters and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.
EventhoughTreasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin represented the WhiteHouse in negotiations, Trumpassailed the bipartisan effort in a video he tweeted out Tuesday night, suggesting hemay not sign the legislation.
Railing against a range of provisions in the broader government funding package, including foreign aid mainstays included each year, Trump called the bill a “disgrace.”
Trumpdid not specifically vow to use his veto power, and there may be enough support in Congress to override him if he does. But the consequences would be severe if Trump upends the legislation, including no federal aid to struggling Americans and small businesses, and no additional resources to help with vaccine distribution. To top it off, because lawmakers linked the pandemic relief bill to an overarching funding measure, the governmentwould shut down on Dec. 29.
The final text of the more than 5,000-page bill was still being prepared by Congress and was not expected to be sent to the White House for Trump’s signature before Thursday or Friday, an aide said.
That complicates the schedule ahead. Under normal circumstances, a bill that has not been vetoed becomes law after 10 days.