Analysis: Trump refusing to endorse stimulus plan as revenge - Business Insider
Category: News & Politics
Via: gsquared • 4 years ago • 58 commentsBy: Tom Porter (Business Insider)
The ugly Trumpian era is crashing to an end.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
- On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump threw into doubt the future of the $900 billion stimulus bill that was painstakingly negotiated by Congress and passed on Monday.
- Trump said he believed the bill was wasteful and that sending $600 checks to ordinary Americans was not enough, saying the amount should be $2,000.
- But some Republicans saw another motive. CNN cited an anonymous GOP official saying Trump was throwing a "tantrum" over the bill to punish Republicans who didn't back his bid to overturn the election.
- The bill has enough bipartisan support to override a potential Trump veto and pass in its current form. Alternatively, lawmakers could agree to a new bill including the $2,000 checks demanded by Trump.
- Trump's intervention means that Americans might not be receiving their direct payment checks next week, as many had expected.
President Donald Trump claims to oppose the $900 COVID-19 stimulus bill because it's wasteful, and the direct payment checks to ordinary Americans aren't large enough.
But there may be another reason far closer to Trump's heart that underlies the attack — a desire for revenge against a Republican Party that he feels has betrayed him in his impossible bid to overturn the result of the presidential election.
The president's attack on the bill — made via a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday — has opened up a rift between congressional Republicans and the White House, with House Republicans on Thursday blocking a Democratic move to incorporate the $2,000 checks demanded by Trump.
"The Trump tantrum has nothing to do with check size or spending — he was fully aware of the negotiations carried out in his behalf by [chief of staff Mark] Meadows and [Treasury Secretary Steven] Mnuchin and never said peep," an unnamed GOP official told CNN's Jake Tapper, after Trump attacked the bill.
"When it comes to venting rage and seeking revenge vs. millions losing unemployment the day after Christmas and millions losing apartments and millions of small businesses going under, there is no contest: his ego always comes first."
Politico's Playbook PM newsletter also reported on Wednesday speculation among people close to Trump, as well as lawmakers, that "this entire tantrum is because Republicans are abandoning him on the Electoral College vote and acknowledging that his presidency is over."
According to The Washington Post, the White House was fielding furious calls from Republicans on Wednesday, as Trump left to spend the Christmas holidays in his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
They wanted to know why administration officials told them that the president supported the bill and asked them to vote for it, only to be abandoned, The Post said.
Trump took scant interest in the stimulus bill while it was being negotiated, as he pursued his bogus voter-fraud claims. Top administration officials told Republican lawmakers during the negotiations that the president backed the position of the GOP's congressional leadership, and encouraged them to vote for the bill.
Trump's Tuesday video, where he threatened to blow up the bill, took Republicans by surprise.
According to The Post, Trump has been complaining that McConnell hasn't been doing enough to help him in his bid to overturn the election. McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were blindsided by Trump's Tuesday night video, according to the report.
It's not the first time this week Trump has taken action seemingly designed to damage Republican leadership, with the president savaging Sen. Mitch McConnell in an email to Republicans on Monday after the Senate majority leader acknowledged Biden's status as president-elect last week.
An advisor to the president told Axios that Trump is desperate to cling onto attention as Biden's inauguration draws closer, and is seeking to retain his hold over the GOP after he loses power by punishing Republicans he deems disloyal.
Earlier this week Axios also reported that Trump was getting angry with top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who he thinks isn't fighting hard enough to support his voter-fraud claims.
Republican credibility on stimulus measures is not the only issue at stake for the party following the president's shock attack, with the party facing crucial elections for control of the Senate in the Georgia runoff elections on January 5.
The failure of the congressional GOP and White House to work together to push through a bill could damage the party's candidates, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
What now for the stimulus bill?
The future of the stimulus bill is unclear.
If the bill does not pass, millions of unemployed Americans will lose federal unemployment assistance on December 26, while a moratorium on evictions included in the bill will not come into effect, rendering many people homeless.
If Congress decides to negotiate Trump's demands for the $2,000 stimulus checks — as top Democrats and progressive lawmakers have suggested — it could take days to negotiate and approve them.
Some Republicans who for weeks opposed higher direct payments are now faced with the uncomfortable prospect of voting against their president if a Democrat-sponsored bill incorporating the demand makes it to the Senate floor.
Trump has ten days to decide whether to sign the stimulus package into law or veto it by sending it back to Congress unsigned.
Trump has not said whether he intends to veto the stimulus package, but he has the power to do so. If he takes this step, the whole process could be pushed back for weeks.
If he delays making a decision, it could also have the same effect as a veto: as Fox News' Chad Pergram tweeted, a presidential veto automatically comes into effect after the January 3 end of the congressional session if Trump doesn't make a decision.
Congress could still override a potential Trump veto, as the stimulus bill had enough votes in the House and Senate on Monday night to surpass the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.
However, if and when lawmakers have to vote to override a veto, many Republicans would face the damaging position of defying their own president, and the unity and credibility of the GOP will likely be damaged.
Another key concern is the December 28 deadline when stopgap government funding — which was passed to allow the stimulus bill to be negotiated — will expire.
It means that large sections of the US government could begin to close as the coronavirus pandemic tears through the country and economic recovery falters.
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The Republicans fed this monster and now it threatens to eat them.
[deleted] is a disgrace along with the gop and his whole goddamned criminal enterprise administration.
So this is Trump's F-U to not only Republicans, but also to the American people. It's mind boggling how some people continue to support him, especially after this tantrum induced fiasco of his.
Given that their heads are so far up their asses, I doubt they'll hear you, lol
Suz - this may help some folks understand the frustration of so many folks with Congress - not Trump. This is what he tried to stop.
Why does Congress think the counties in Europe/Asia need more funding that DOES NOT pertain to the misleading title of COVID Relief Package???
Congress needs to be stopped - dead in their tracks - because they have, apparently, forgotten who hired them through elections - and it's getting old.
Seriously 1st, the bill is entitled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 in which DIVISION M—CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE AND RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021 is just ONE SECTION,
The vast majority of foreign funding in the bill comes directly from Trump's 2021 Budget.
NONE of those facts are 'confusing'.
the secret service needs to transfer all their fuck-ups and fundies to the trump family security detail on 1/21/21
Why so some TDS riddled moron hyped up by lies from the left and media can try to kill him, and his family, and have a better chance for success?
Why so some TDS riddled moron hyped up by lies from the left and media can try to kill him, and his
Link?
They should split the difference and make the stimulus check 1200, just like the first time. People would accept that as sensible. This bit about having to keep the total cost of the relief at or under 900 billion was totally arbitrary and people saw right through it. It is way too late to start worrying about the national debt over a "measly" 160 billion.
I agree that that amt. would be acceptable to more people-- but its still not what's truly needed. $2000 would be better...
(Of course on another level it may not matter-- Republicans will turn down any figure which would have a meaningful impact...)
P - Petty
O - Overweight
T - Total
U- Unamerican
S - Shit head
Nice Paula!
May I offer a few alternate words...
Specifically for T... Temperamental, Tantrum, Toddler...
Perhaps others will be able to extend this list even further...
T----Tyrannical Rex with tiny hands/claws, Tyrant, Tedious, Testicless
I agree in principle...but it seems to me that that probably won't have much effect-- the Republican majority in the Senate will reject any meaningful amount...
(There's always a change that Democrats will gain control of the Senate in the upcoming Georgia runoff election...but I doubt both Dems will win both seats).
P----Pussy Grabbin
O----Oligarch wanna be
T ----Travesty
U----Unbelievable
S----Sycophant seeker
Great, Paula. I like this.
P - Pissant
O - Overbearing
T - Treasonous
U - Unacceptable
S - Skunk
Treasonous... OMG... How could I have forgotten Treasonous...
P--Petulant
O--Ostentatious
T-- Tedious
U--Ultraunderachiever
S--Subcutaneous
u and me , both. Traitor also now comes to mind
By comparing them to Trump, your comment is an insult to other Petty, Overweight, Totally Un-American Shitheads!
P - Pissant
O - Obnoxious
T - Tiny hands
U - Unbearable
S - Stupid
So therefore it's true?
When Trump says $600 is too low an amount, isn't he right? Government tells you you can't work and $600 is supposed to make it all better? Why hasn't Congress already passed a new version of this bill with the larger payment? Why delay?
$600 is too low.
$600 is too low.
Some people would strongly disagree:
House Republicans blocked a Democratic attempt to increase the size of stimulus checks included in the latest coronavirus relief bill from $600 to $2000 on Thursday morning.
I wonder how this will effect the upcoming Election?
What about the pay issue (for American troops?)
Be careful!
Didn't you know there's a "War on Christmas"?
We aren't allowed to celebrate it any more!
"Dear Leader" explains!
My Senators are all in for Trump and facts have no effect on that.
Is there funding for Pakistan in the bill?
I doubt it.
Because they need to remove the pork from it as well; and Nancy can't live with her non covid 19 related pork.
Leave the pork in and Trump will not sign it.
Sort of like the reason Trump vetoed the Defense Bill?
Although it that case it was because of the Pork that wasn't in it! Unrelated Pork he wanted in it before he'd sign it.
Trump wanted a routine Defense Bill to include limitations on Freedom of Speech-- for news organizations!!
And also: "Dear Leader" wanted some nonsensical pork re: renaming of military bases that were named after traitors to the U.S.!
It's utterly hilarious to see Pelosi blamed for the funding in the Omnibus characterized as 'pork' when Trump included the vast majority of the foreign aid in his 2021 budget.
Oh and then there is the FACT that Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby [Alabama] personally backed the vast majority of the line items that Trump whined about in his batshit crazy remarks before Xmas, ESPECIALLY the funding for the FBI construction in Huntsville, Alabama.
Here's a short list of the line items that Shelby supported:
BTFW, McConnell supported the $25 million for Asian carp thingy too.
I don't believe anyone is bitching about the 2021 budget items in the Omnibus budget bill. It's the shit in the Corona Virus aid bill. The shit in the 2021 budget proposal itself is nothing new. They do it every time.
Pretty sad that you don't seem to realize that they are one in the same Jim.
Pretty sad that they got packaged together when Mr. Trump asked for separate, smaller bills for the true needs of the nation that he would sign within minutes of hitting his desk. It was all timing. They needed to keep the GovCo wheels turning so, instead of the Omnibus alone to do that, they tied them into one not so neat package.
Indeed.
Pretty sad that Trump waited until AFTER the fucking bill was passed to mention that little detail.
NO, it was Trump's EGO.
Do you know WHY Jim?
Perhaps it would behoove you to review the FACT that the House PASSED Appropriations bills way back in July. McConnell IGNORED them.
But ya, Democrats!, Pelosi!. blah, blah, blah!
As pointed out previously and elsewhere, Trump asked for a minimum of $1,200 back in October along with his request for smaller, more focused bills to sign. Sumbitches waffled and by the time December rolled around, even more damage was done to the American people and the country as a whole.
As far as the appropriation bills, did they not go ahead with band aids to keep the GovCo machine running? BTFW Blah blah blah your ass off.
Trump 'asked' for the 1200 the SAME day he ordered Mnuchin to end the negotiations.
So you'll have to blame Trump for those 'sumbitches' waffling Jim.
Anyone that needs to pretend that Trump didn't sign off on the $600 before they voted is deluded.
No, as I said, McConnell ignored them. Try to keep up.
I'll leave that to you Jim.
Well Jim, it sure as hell seems like McConnell has decided to tell Trump to go pound sand. I invite you to spin that into blaming Pelosi.
Because the Republicans are blocking it--- they want only $600, they're afraid the $2000 is way too much as it will increase the deficit....
House already submitted a bill for that amount months ago. McConnell blocked it.
What amount?
$2000/each.
Markey want to give Americans $2,000 a month during coronavirus crisis
PUBLISHED FRI, MAY 8 202010:36 AM EDTUPDATED FRI, MAY 8 202011:56 AM EDT
Sens. Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey introduced a bill to give Americans $2,000 per month during the coronavirus crisis. Money would go to every U.S. resident making up to $120,000, with payments to parents of $2,000 per child for up three children.
The Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act
Democratic senators propose $2,000 monthly payments to most Americans
IMHO THAT plan would get no traction anyway. Although maybe a little excessive, $2K a month was a noble "gesture"..........and a possible road to "guaranteed income" that Bernie and others are so fond of. Maybe, I know a lot of speculation here on my part, had it been a one time $2K it may have gone somewhere. But to just say "as long as we are under a pandemic, you get this every month", is a dead issue. At that point in time, there was very little know about the duration of the pandemic and to make that promise not knowing how long it would have to continue, is irresponsible.
Again, JMHO
Correct, thanks to McConnell and the Republicans.
What a concept, using government to HELP their constituents!
Correct, thanks to McConnell and the Republicans.
Not irresponsible, actually responsible. That's the government's job, to safeguard its citizens.
Congress?
Well, as I'm sure you are aware....there are two houses of Congress.
The Democratic majority House has passed t he $2000 amount . The Republican controlled Senate won't.
Its just that simple . . .
(And now you know the news!)
If you have any other questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them
Well, as i’m sure your’e aware, dems upped the amount but wanted to keep all the bullshit that has nothing to do with the chinese virus. Repubs want to keep the low amount but cut the pork.
trump is the only one who gets it. Up the amount for the people AND cut all the wasteful bs that has nothing to do with the chinese virus.
there ya go.
tRump is the only one who gets it? LOL!