Trump Signs 4 Executive Orders for Covid-19 Relief
After two weeks of failed negotiations with the Democrat party, on Saturday, August 8th 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed four executive orders. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had been unable to negotiate a second coronavirus relief package.
What about the negotiations that were taking place?
The differences between the bills proposed by our Democrat House of Representatives and our Republican Senate are substantial. The House of Representatives passed The Heroes Act on On May 15, 2020 by a bipartisan vote of 208 to 199. In addition to an extension of the $600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit, this $3 trillion relief package included more than $1 trillion in aid to state and local governments. $915 billion of which would be in unrestricted cash.
The Republican senators have proposed a $1 trillion “Health Care Economic Assistance Liability Protection and Schools,” or HEALS Act. Among other things, this included cutting the enhanced unemployment benefit to $200-per-week (in hopes of getting more people back to work).
President Trump’s Response to the Stalemate
With the Democrat and Republican parties being trillions of dollars apart and the $600 enhanced unemployment benefit having expired on July 31st, President Trump held a press conference on August 8th where he expressed his frustration with the lack of progress.
“We have repeatedly stated our willingness to immediately sign legislation providing expanded unemployment benefits, protecting Americans from eviction, and providing additional relief payments to families,” Trump said. “Democrats have refused these offers.”
Prior to signing the four executive actions, our President went on to say:
“So the Democrat bill includes stimulus checks for illegal aliens. They require the mass release of illegal aliens from detention. They also compel the mass release of inmates, including serious felons.” Trump said. “What does this have to do with stimulus, the economy? What does this have to do with the coronavirus?”
What were the 4 Executive Actions?
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 9, 2020
- Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster
- Executive Order on Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners
- Memorandum on Continued Student Loan Payment Relief During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Over to You:
What are your thoughts? Are you fed up with our members of congress putting their political ambitions ahead of what is best for American citizens? Are you behind your President and support his efforts to bring relief to American citizens by helping to put more money back in the pockets of working people?