Breaking

Trump bypasses Congress, signs executive order extending some coronavirus benefits | CBC News
Aug 08, 2020 2 mins, 2 secs
President Donald Trump on Saturday moved to bypass the nation's elected lawmakers as he claimed the authority to defer payroll taxes and extend an expired unemployment benefit after negotiations with Congress on a new coronavirus rescue package collapsed.

At his private country club in Bedminster, N.J., Trump signed four executive orders to act where Congress hasn't, contending Washington's gridlock had compelled him to act as the pandemic undermined the country's economy and imperilled his November re-election hopes.

The Democratic congressional leaders Trump criticized and insulted with nicknames in remarks ahead of signing the orders.

Trump's embrace of executive actions to sidestep Congress runs in sharp contrast to his criticism of former president Barack Obama's use of executive orders on a more limited basis.

It was not immediately clear where the federal portion would come from — though the president suggested he was looking to use unspent funds from previous coronavirus relief bills — and Trump said it would be up to states to determine how much, if any of it, to fund.

Democrats had said they would lower their spending demands from $3.4 trillion to $2 trillion but said the White House needed to increase its offer.

Aides were hoping to frame the expected executive orders signings as an indication that Trump was taking action in a time of crisis.

Trump said Saturday the orders "will take care of pretty much this entire situation, as we know it." But they are far smaller in scope than congressional legislation, and even aides acknowledged they didn't meet the needs of all that was required.

Trump said he'll try to get lawmakers to extend it, and the timing would line up with a post-election lame-duck session in which Congress will try to pass government funding bills.

Democrats said they were not favourably impressed by Trump's orders.

Neal of Massachusetts, accused Trump of "brazenly circumventing Congress to institute tax policy that destabilizes Social Security." Also citing a threat to Medicare funding by Trump's action, Neal said, "This decree is a poorly disguised first step in an effort to fully dismantle these vital programs by executive fiat.".

He said the White House had rejected an offer by Pelosi to curb Democratic demands by about $1 trillion.

Schumer urged the White House to "negotiate with Democrats and meet us in the middle.

RECENT NEWS

SUBSCRIBE

Get monthly updates and free resources.

CONNECT WITH US

© Copyright 2024 365NEWSX - All RIGHTS RESERVED