President Donald Trump signed the omnibus spending bill and the pandemic relief bill Sunday night, December 27, at Mar-A-Lago. The combined $2.3 trillion spending package was put into limbo after Trump caught GOP congressional lawmakers off guard when he voiced objections to the bills in a video released Tuesday, December 22. The President tweeted, “I simply want to get our great people $2000, rather than the measly $600 that is now in the bill. Also, stop the billions of dollars in pork.” Senate Republicans previously blocked a bipartisan measure to provide a $1,200 direct payment.
Trump’s signature removes the possibility of a partial government shutdown since the previous temporary spending bill expires Tuesday, December 29. It also means that many people impacted by the pandemic will continue to receive current benefits and others will be the recipients of newly enacted measures. However, the delay resulted in millions of Americans losing a week of unemployment benefits, as the current program expired Saturday, December 26.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, spoke about those benefits Sunday night and in a statement to the press, said: “The signing of the bipartisan, bicameral coronavirus relief legislation is welcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas Weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.”
The President presented some caveats to his signature. Trump promised to send a “redlined” version back to Congress with a “formal request” to revoke line items he finds unacceptable.
Under the provisions of a 1974 budget law, a “rescission” (revocation) message places a 45-day hold on the specified funds while Congress mulls legislation to approve the presidential request. If lawmakers fail to accept, the funds must be released.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not mention the President’s demands but simply said, “The compromised bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now.”
Pelosi said on Sunday that President Trump needed to call on Congressional Republicans to “end their obstruction and join him and the Democrats” in support of the bill. “Every Republican vote against this bill is a vote to deny the financial hardship that families face and to deny the American people the relief they need,” she said.
On Monday, the House passed the compromised bill, leaving it to the GOP-controlled Senate to finish the process. They are expected to vote on it Tuesday.
