Stefanik supports president’s orders
21st District Congresswoman backs Trump’s extension of federal unemployment benefits
Despite critics’ concerns that President Donald Trump acted unlawfully when he signed an executive order extending additional unemployment benefits, fellow Republican and supporter Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said she backs the president’s efforts on unemployment during the pandemic.
Speaking Monday at Glens Falls Hospital, the congresswoman from the 21st District said that Trump’s executive order will have an impact regardless. The order calls for supplementing unemployment with an additional $400 a week, of which states will have to contribute $100. She also blamed Democrats for not finding a compromise with Republicans who wanted to reduce the extra — now expired — $600 a week to the unemployed to $200, or 70 percent of previous wages.
“I am disappointed Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and Leader (Charles) Schumer walked away,” Stefanik said. “There were multiple proposals from Republicans to come to a compromise. I still think Congress needs to act on a bipartisan funding bill. … But I’m happy the president acted when there was an unwillingness on Pelosi and Schumer’s part to negotiate on the multiple proposals put forth.”
Stefanik was speaking with the media after announcing she secured $44.4 million for Glens Falls Hospital — $21 million of Medicare Advance payments and $23.4 million in provider relief fund through the CARES Act.
But most of her discussion with the centered on Trump, who she defended during his impeachment hearings in December. Since then, she rose to national prominence and was appointed one of six New York campaign chairs for the president’s re-election. Though known as a moderate, she said her connection with Trump will not tarnish her reputation for independence. Rather, she said their association could lock in her chances to win because Trump is “polling higher in the district than ever before” and that he won with a coalition of Republicans, Democrats and independents in 2016, just like she has done since 2014.
“I continue to see support for President Trump growing,” Stefanik said. “We have more volunteers in this district than ever before. We have more success with grass-roots success than ever before.”
She also said she delivers for the district, referencing Monday’s hospital announcement, which was attended by administration and hospital staff who praised Stefanik’s efforts and presented her with a proclamation.
“Voters in my district know that my number one priority is to deliver results,” Stefanik said. “My ability to work effectively with this president has helped me deliver results for this district, like today.”
In the past, Stefanik appeared frustrated with Trump, including inaction when dealing with foreign interference in elections. On Monday, she appeared more confident that foreign actors will not impede November’s election. She cited a bill she shepherded that entails driving funds to state Board of Elections to ensure updated and secure election technology is in place. She also took credit for funding going to cyber command and capabilities that, among other things, can monitor and take down social media trolls. And she emphasized Russia is not the only country to watch.
“Not only do we have to be focused on Russia, but also China, Iran and North Korea,” she said.
Finally, when asked about her support for the Black Lives Matter movement, she said, “We need to clearly focus building on stronger community relationships with communities that are frankly underserved.”
She also backs a bipartisan bill that bans chokeholds and ensures sharing of information on bad members of police departments.
“Clearly as a nation, we need to focus on criminal justice and focus on our police departments so they have the very best training,” she said.