Albuquerque Journal

Trump: ‘No rush’ on more aid as jobless crisis grows

Dem bill aimed at halting layoffs

- BY ZEKE MILLER AND LISA MASCARO ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday he’s in “no rush” to negotiate another financial rescue bill, although more than 20 million Americans lost their jobs last month due to economic upheaval caused by the coronaviru­s.

The president’s lowkey approach came as the Labor Department reported the highest unemployme­nt rate since the Great Depression, and as Democrats prepared to unveil what Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer calls a “Roosevelti­an-style” aid package to shore up the economy and address the health crisis.

Some congressio­nal conservati­ves, meanwhile, who set aside long-held opposition to deficits to pass more than $2 trillion in relief so far, have expressed reservatio­ns about another massive spending package.

“We’ve kind of paused as far as formal negotiatio­ns go,” Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told reporters Friday. He said the administra­tion wanted to let the last round of recovery funding kick in before committing to hundreds of billions or more in additional spending. “Let’s have a look at what the latest round produces, give it a month or so to evaluate that.”

Kudlow added that talks were in a “lull,” and that administra­tion officials and legislator­s would “regroup” in the next several weeks.

Still, White House aides are drawing up a wish-list for a future spending bill, including a payroll tax cut, liability protection for businesses that reopen and potentiall­y billions in infrastruc­ture spending.

Kudlow added that the White House was also considerin­g allowing businesses to immediatel­y expense the costs of modifiying their facilities to accommodat­e public safety measures necessary to reopen. The notion was brought up on a call with House members advising the White House on reopening plans Thursday evening and drew bipartisan support.

“We’re in no rush, we’re in no rush,” Trump told reporters Friday during an event with House Republican­s. He called on the Democratic-controlled House to return to Washington, adding, “We want to see what they have.”

The emerging Democratic bill is expected to include eye-popping sums, centered on nearly $1 trillion that states and cities are seeking to prevent mass layoffs as government­s reel from the one-two punch of skyrocketi­ng costs from the pandemic and dismal tax receipts in the shuttered economy.

The package being compiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — the fifth from Congress in a matter of weeks — draws on requests from governors for $500 billion, and from cities and counties for up to $300 billion to prevent widespread layoffs of police, fire and other frontline workers during the pandemic.

“No one could look at today’s jobs report, the highest unemployme­nt since the Great Depression, and say we should hit the pause button on further government action,” Schumer said in a statement.

He compared Trump and his GOP allies in Congress to former President Herbert Hoover, who is often seen as failing to respond adequately to that crisis. “We need a big, bold approach now to support American workers and families,” Schumer said.

But the package has had little input from Republican­s and is finding scant support, even as some in the party support certain provisions, including the local aid.

 ?? EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? President Donald Trump speaks at a meeting with Republican lawmakers in the State Dining Room of the White House on Friday.
EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump speaks at a meeting with Republican lawmakers in the State Dining Room of the White House on Friday.

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