Trump relief orders questioned

Legality, efficacy of executive approach to aid elicit pushback

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — President Donald Trump’s end run around Congress on coronavirus relief is raising questions about whether it would give Americans the economic lifeline he claims and appears certain to face legal challenges.

Democrats called it a pre-election ploy that would burden cashstrapped states.

“When you look at those executive orders … the kindest thing I could say is he doesn’t know what he’s talking about or something’s wrong there,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “To characterize them as even accomplishing what they set out to do, as something that will take the place of an agreement, is just not so.”

After negotiations with lawmakers on the next package of pandemic economic assistance hit a wall, Trump used what he said are the inherent powers of the presidency to forge ahead on tax and spending policy.

Trump asserted that he has the authority to defer payroll taxes and extend an expired unemployment benefit, although at a lower amount than what the jobless had been getting during the crisis. Critics said the actions cross a legal line and fall well short of what is needed to help right the fragile economy.

“Paltry,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, given the scope of the economic and health crises.

The moves were framed by the White House as a presidential breakthrough of the Washington gridlock in order to directly distribute aid.

Trump took full credit for the measures, which he signed at his New Jersey golf club Saturday after congressional talks broke down this past week. Democrats initially sought a $3.4 trillion package but said they had lowered their demand to $2 trillion. Republicans had proposed a $1 trillion plan.

Trump accused Democrats of trying to spend more than was needed and adding money for priorities unrelated to the pandemic. He said local aid amounted to “bailout money” for states and cities “badly run by Democrats for many years. … And we’re not willing to do that.”

The president wants to continue paying a supplemental federal unemployment benefit for millions of Americans put out of work during the outbreak. But his order called for up to $400 payments each week, compared with the $600 that people had been receiving.