REX TILLERSON DID CORRECTLY CALL THE PRESIDENT AS HE SAW HIM

 IS TRUMP GOING TO ALLOW THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO SHUT DOWN?

 

…This man’s legacy will be, to have been the worst leader of the US Senate….ever.

 

This president hasn’t a clue about how US legislation is actually done.

 

In a surprise video address on Tuesday night, President Trump said something that even the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) could finally get behind: “The proposed stimulus checks of $600 in Congress’s coronavirus economic relief bill is ‘ridiculously low’ and should be increased to $2,000.”

“Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent,” Pelosi posted on Twitter. “Let’s do it!”

While some congressional Democrats expressed their frustrations over the president’s timing, one day after a nearly $900 billion bill was passed by Congress, others seized on Trump’s demand and put pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his fellow Republicans to make the deal happen.

“Seems like [McConnell] is now the only roadblock to getting the American people $2,000 checks” tweeted Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.).

“I’m in. Whaddya say, Mitch?” tweeted Senate Minority Leader Charles (Chuck) Schumer (D-N.Y.). “Let’s not get bogged down with ideological offsets and unrelated items and just DO THIS! The American people deserve it.”

The president’s demands come after about nine months of arduous negotiations between Republicans and Democrats that did not include President Trump. Trump said Tuesday that he would not immediately sign off on the aid package for millions of Americans, which he described the lower payments as “a disgrace.”

It is obvious that the president doesn’t understand the basic details of government legislation.  This bill that was just passed by Congress is not just the stimulus bill.  It is a combination Omnibus spending bill that also includes the sustained government spending bill and the stimulus bill.  It was decided that after all these months of negotiations, combining the two bills would give it better chances of passing.  If the president refuses to sign the bill, the consequences would be significant and severe.  The US government would lose from hundreds of billions of dollars in economic aid being frozen, to a complete government shutdown starting next week. In addition,  the high-stakes Senate runoff for the two seats in Georgia, which will decide control of the Senate chamber next month, could also be upended.

Pelosi said congressional Democrats could start the process as soon as today, but amending the bill within days would be tricky and probably unsuccessful. If any House Republicans oppose Pelosi’s efforts, then it would not pass.  In addition, Senate Republicans would also have to pass the measure unanimously.

This Tuesday night, Democratic lawmakers expressed their willingness to work with Trump and they blamed Republicans for not giving the president what he wants, which coincides with what they want.  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) tweeted Democrats had “fought for months” to provide a package with more money.  Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he co-sponsored a bill with additional funding seven months ago.

“Now, Mr. President, get Mitch McConnell and your Republican friends to stop opposing it and we can provide working class Americans with $2,000. Let’s do it,” Sanders said.

McConnell has not publicly responded to the president’s demands as of early Wednesday.

Schumer, taunting Trump, said this is an opportunity for the president to step in and stop McConnell from blocking the measure.

“Maybe Trump can finally make himself useful and get Republicans not to block it again,” Schumer tweeted.

In a rare move given the divisiveness in Congress, some GOP lawmakers signaled a willingness to work with Democrats to give the president what he pushed for in his video. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the president’s closest allies in Congress, tweeted he does “appreciate” Pelosi’s support of Trump’s “idea.”  “The American people are hurting and deserve relief,” Graham said. “I know there is much bipartisan support for this idea. Let’s go further.”

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a stand-alone GOP senator who pushed publicly for $1,200 stimulus checks, lauded Trump’s remarks. “There’s obviously plenty of $$ to do it,” Hawley tweeted.

But some Democrats questioned Trump’s timing for demanding $2,000 checks, with some saying the president wasn’t serious and doesn’t understand the process of funding a relief package. Rep.  Donald McEachin (D-Va.) accused Trump of hurting the American people by suggesting he wouldn’t sign the bill, “choosing to prevent you from receiving a direct relief payment.” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) pointed out derailing the stimulus bill would have a damaging impact on the unemployed: “Does the president realize that unemployment benefits expire the day after Christmas?”

But many Democrats remained hopeful something could be done, including those who have clashed with Trump throughout his term.  Hours after Trump’s address went online, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said she and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) already co-wrote the amendment.

“It’s ready to go,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation.

This is all just more examples of how ignorant the president is and how much the leader of the US Senate doesn’t give a damn about the voters that have allowed him to stay in office.

Copyright G. Ater 2020