POLITICUSUSA
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urged President Donald Trump to authorize $2,000 direct payments to Americans after he expressed his dissatisfaction with the bipartisan Covid-19 stimulus package that lawmakers approved late Monday.
United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has confirmed that Americans could see $600 stimulus checks as soon as next week. The funds are part of a $900 million virus relief package that lawmakers agreed on last night; final votes will be tallied today ahead of a midnight deadline.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that the United States economy added just 245,000 jobs in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, 224,000 fewer jobs than had been projected.
Although November’s unemployment rate (6.7%) is lower than October’s unemployment rate (6.9%) this is because more workers left the workforce in November. Of those not counted among the workforce, 3.9 million people have been unable to look for work because of the Covid-19 pandemic’s disastrous effects on the job market.
Senator Angus King (I-Maine) criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), saying he has “gotta listen” to members of the Republican Party who have called for bipartisan action on Covid-19 relief, which has stalled in the Senate since CARES Act benefits expired in July.
President Donald Trump lashed out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and accused her of “only looking to Bail Out badly run Democrat Cities.”
The president added that she has “little interest in helping out” Americans.
President Donald Trump says coronavirus aid talks have restarted, just days after he shocked financial markets by announcing he’d ordered Republicans to end negotiations altogether.
“Now they are starting to work out,” he told Fox Business Network.
President Donald Trump, who yesterday announced he had instructed Republicans not to negotiate a coronavirus financial stimulus package until after November’s general election, appeared to reverse course this morning, telling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that he is “Waiting To Sign” a bill authorizing stimulus checks as soon as it lands on his desk.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) rebuked the Senate’s attempts to confirm a nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court in remarks earlier today. Baker says the Senate should “allow the American people to cast their ballots” first, joining a chorus of voices who say a confirmation should be decided by the winner of November’s general election.
President Donald Trump called Democrats “heartless” and accused them of blocking vital coronavirus relief as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy and people’s livelihoods. The Senate did not approve new relief legislation last week.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says a vote on coronavirus relief funds could happen sometime this week. McConnell did not specify what would be included in the relief measure, but said it would focus on health care, education, and the economy.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin cannot confirm when the White House and Democrats might reach a deal on vital coronavirus relief funds for the millions of Americans affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Kentucky voters are angry at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s response to the economic crisis wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. Protesters have taken to protesting outside McConnell’s Louisville office, carrying signs with slogans such as “Mitch Better Have My Money.”
President Donald Trump lashed out at Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse earlier this morning, calling him a RINO, or Republican in Name Only.
“RINO Ben Sasse, who needed my support and endorsement in order to get the Republican nomination for Senate from the GREAT State of Nebraska, has, now that he’s got it (Thank you President T), gone rogue, again,” the president wrote. “This foolishness plays right into the hands of the Radical Left Dems!”
President Donald Trump lashed out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), accusing them of delaying crucial coronavirus relief legislation.
“So now Schumer and Pelosi want to meet to make a deal. Amazing how it all works, isn’t it,” he wrote. “Where have they been for the last 4 weeks when they were “hardliners”, and only wanted BAILOUT MONEY for Democrat run states and cities that are failing badly? They know my phone number!”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) took Republicans to task for delaying vital financial relief to everyone affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn for what you just described,” she told CNBC’s Jim Cramer. Pelosi added that she “hopes” President Donald Trump makes good on his threat to extend the nationwide eviction moratorium though she pointed out that things would only continue to get worse in the absence of adequate financial relief.
1.3 million more Americans filed for unemployment last week. Although the number of new unemployment claims has dropped over the last four months, several states have been forced to shutter their economies once again after reopening too early, contributing to a spike in cases. In particular, Florida, Texas, and Arizona have become the nation’s new hotspots in the current surge.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts (R) has threatened to withhold federal coronavirus relief funds from cities and country governments mandating that their residents wear masks in courthouses and other government offices.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised his Republican colleagues that he would end enhanced unemployment benefits. Currently, those receiving unemployment benefits receive an additional $600 a week. McConnell said Republicans are “going to have to clean up the Democrats’ crazy policy that is paying people more to remain unemployed than they would earn if they went back to work.”
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has called for an inspector general to investigate coronavirus stimulus loans given to large companies and those close to the administration.
“Let me issue a warning right now to anyone who participates in a corrupt giveaway with President Trump and his administration,” Biden said in a video message released by his campaign. “I will direct her to review every stimulus loan given to any big company or political insider.”