Trump still considering VETOING plan for $600 stimulus checks as top Republican says ‘the bill has been tainted’
PRESIDENT Donald Trump is reportedly continuing to consider vetoing the new coronavirus relief bill—with $600 checks he says are too small—as the top Republican calls it “tainted.”
On a House GOP conference call on Wednesday afternoon, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he spoke to Trump, according to New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman.
“POTUS hasn’t committed to a veto of the stimulus bill yet. Still deciding,” Haberman tweeted.
She added that “McCarthy, per person on the call, said that [Republicans] need to address the president’s concerns and keep parts of the bill they think are good, but that POTUS hasn’t committed either way.”
Haberman tweeted that the unnamed person on the call said that McCarthy stated, “This bill has been tainted.”
McCarthy’s comment “was followed by someone on the call saying Trump threw House GOP under the bus,” Haberman wrote.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Sun on Wednesday.
Trump on Tuesday night ripped the $908billion Covid-19 relief package agreed upon by Congress on Sunday.
The president demanded that Congress up the $600 stimulus checks that the bill proposes, to $2,000 direct payments to Americans.
“I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” Trump said during the press conference.
Trump said that the package “provides hardworking taxpayers with only $600 each in relief payments and not enough money is given to small businesses.”
He asked Congress to remove numerous aspects of the bill, including funds to other countries and undocumented individuals.
“I’m also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill or else the next administration will have to deliver a Covid relief package, and maybe that administration will be me, and we will get it done,” Trump concluded.
After Trump’s remarks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted her support for larger stimulus checks, while blaming the GOP.
“Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks,” she wrote.
“At last, the President has agreed to $2,000—Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it!”
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Trump on Monday claimed credit for the stimulus package, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin previously said the president would back the bill.
The bill passed the House and Senate on Monday.
Trump then said in a video that the bill “really is a disgrace,” but did not specifically say he would veto it.