West Palm Beach (United States) (AFP)
President Donald Trump on Sunday promised "good news" about the new $ 900 billion economic stimulus package adopted by Congress on Monday, but which he has so far refused to ratify, plunging millions Americans in precariousness.
"Good news on the Covid Aid Bill," the White House tenant wrote on Twitter at around 6:21 p.m. local time with no further details other than information to follow.
This tweet comes after a day marked by calls from all political stripes urging it to act to avoid economic and social disaster, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
"We have come to an agreement, at least on something. It is not enough but it is a step in the right direction," Republican governor of the state of Maryland, Larry Hogan, told CNN Sunday.
"So ratify the legislation".
"What the President is doing is incredibly cruel," influential progressive Senator Bernie Sanders said on ABC.
"Sign the proposal Mr. President and Monday, Tuesday we will pass (an amendment) offering direct payments of $ 2,000 for families in this country who work hard," added the elected.
- "Only buoy" -
Mr. Trump is indeed demanding a revaluation of aid checks for families in difficulty, thus opposing the elected officials of his own Republican party.
In addition to household aid, its refusal also raises the specter of a shutdown of public services - shutdown - from Tuesday because the bill is part of a set of legislative texts including the funding of the federal state.
Unemployment benefit provided for by two federal assistance programs put in place in March as part of the first economic support plan expired at midnight on Saturday, leaving at least 12 million Americans in the dark. , according to progressive think tank The Century Foundation.
However, the new stimulus plan extends federal aid paid to the unemployed until mid-March, grants guaranteed loans to businesses, and provides billions of dollars in aid to SMEs, catering companies, hotels, restaurants and businesses. air transport etc - extends the moratorium prohibiting the evictions of people who cannot pay their rent, suspends foreclosures and provides funds for the distribution of anti-Covid vaccines.
Without the signature of Donald Trump, currently vacationing in Florida and to whom the bill was sent on Thursday, all these measures cannot come into force.
This aid is crucial especially as the economic recovery has stalled, hampered by new restrictions on activity and travel due to the outbreak of Covid-19 infections.
They are, according to Andrew Stettner of The Century Foundation, "the only lifeline preventing millions of families from falling into poverty."
"Without unemployment benefit or a salary, families will not have the means to buy food, to keep their house or their car, to buy important medicines, will face difficult tests so that to find a job and to leave the hole in which the recession will have plunged them will be a struggle, "warns Mr. Stettner.
African Americans and Hispanics are the most affected, he says.
- New session Monday -
Beyond the short-term damage, Mr. Trump's refusal could worsen the economic wounds caused by the pandemic, in this case a surge in long-term unemployment.
President Donald Trump took parliamentarians by surprise when he ruled on Tuesday that the $ 900 billion stimulus package passed by a large majority by both houses of Congress and approved by his Minister of Economy and Finance was a shame".
Without expressly saying that he was going to veto it, he asked for an increase in the amount of checks to be sent directly to households, a request repeated on Saturday.
"I just want to give very good people $ 2,000, rather than the lousy $ 600 that is currently in the bill," repeated on Twitter Mr. Trump, who was focused, during the compromise negotiations, to denounce the alleged frauds having led, according to him, to his defeat in the presidential election of November 3.
Democrats, in favor of increased payments, attempted Thursday to pass an amendment to this effect in the House of Representatives, but it was blocked by the Republican minority.
Another parliamentary session is scheduled for Monday.
"Americans and small businesses should hope that Trump acts and ratifies the legislation or veto it. In the latter case, Congress could at least get around it" by voting again with a very overwhelming majority, summarizes Carl Tobias, teacher at the University of Richmond.
© 2020 AFP