President Trump accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of disregarding the needs of the American people as Democrats and Republicans negotiate another coronavirus economic relief bill.
“We want to take care of the people. The Democrats aren’t taking care of the people. The payments aren’t enough. The payments aren’t enough. You understand that. They are not making the payments. They are not making them high enough,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “The Democrats are not taking care of the people. Nancy Pelosi takes care of herself, but she doesn’t take care of anyone else. So, look at what’s going on with Schumer. So, when Schumer and Pelosi can get together and take care of the people, we’ll do something.”
Trump’s comments come a day after Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected a proposal from Senate Republicans, citing a lack of funding for national unemployment benefits and an absence of an extension placing a moratorium on evictions of tenants by landlords.
“Two and a half months after Democrats delivered the solutions to defeating the virus and safely reopening the country in the HEROES Act, the Senate GOP has now come back with a weak, piecemeal proposal that will only prolong the suffering for millions of workers and families across America,” the two said in a joint statement. “The Senate GOP proposal is a sad statement of their values, selling out struggling families at the kitchen table in order to enrich the corporate interests at the boardroom table.”
The national moratorium on evictions is set to expire at midnight on Friday.
“Communities across this country need eviction protections and housing assistance in order to avert mass evictions and homelessness,” said Rep. Jesus Garcia, a Democrat. “If we fail to act, recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the looming economic crisis will be impossible.”
Trump has cited a payroll tax cut and money for the FBI as items he would like to see included in the bill. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have spent the week on Capitol Hill negotiating with both parties.
“It’s a mess,” Sen. Josh Hawley told the Washington Examiner this week. “I’m not inclined to support it now. I can’t figure out what this bill was about. I can’t figure out what we were trying to accomplish with it.”
