PALM BEACH (US) – With President Donald Trump refusing to ink the legislation to provide a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, millions of citizens will helplessly witness their jobless benefits expiring on Saturday.
He surprised both Republicans as well as Democrats by saying this week he was unhappy with the massive bill, which would roll out $892 billion in much-needed coronavirus relief and it also extends the special jobless benefits expiring on December 26 and $1.4 trillion for normal government spending.
Without the signature of the president, about 14 million Americans could be deprived of their benefits as per data of the Labour Department. On Tuesday, a partial government shut-down will begin unless the Congress consents to a stop-gap government funding bill.
Following months of debate, both Republicans and Democrats gave the nod to the package last weekend with the backing of the White House. Trump, who will hand over power to Joe Biden on January 20, did not raise an objection to the terms of the legislation before Congress voted it through on Monday night.
However, since then, the president has raised the objection that the bill allots too much money to special interests, cultural projects and foreign aid, while its one-time $600 stimulus cheques to millions of citizens were too small. Instead, he wants it to be raised to $2,000.
“Why would politicians not want to give people $2,000, rather than only $600?…Give our people the money!” Trump tweeted on Christmas Day.
