President Trump is going it alone — but he’s not planning to send you another $1,200 check anytime soon.
With talks for a new coronavirus stimulus package stalled, Trump signed a package of coronavirus stimulus measures that he will seek to implement unilaterally by executive action.
“This pretty much takes care of the whole situation,” Trump said before stalking out of the contentious press conference at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J.
“We’re coming back very strong,” he added. “We’re doing great with the virus.”
It’s unclear whether he has legal authority to do so, given that the constitution gives only Congress the power to control taxes.
Trump moved to extend a scaled-down emergency unemployment benefits and an eviction ban, along with relaxing rules for repaying college loans.
Trump slashed the extended federal unemployment benefit to $300 a week instead of the previous $600.
He said states can provide an additional $100 weekly benefit if they decide to do so.
Trump also moved to suspend payroll taxes for those making $100,000 a year or less.
He pointedly did not propose sending a new round of $1,200 checks to all American taxpayers, perhaps the most popular coronavirus stimulus measure.
Before actually signing the measures, Trump went into a rambling campaign-style speech against Democratic rival Joe Biden and his allies.
Trump slammed Democrats for proposing billions in aid to hard-pressed states and cities along with what he derided as a wish list of liberal spending.
“They want to bailout states that has been very badly managed for years if not decades,” Trump said. “It has nothing to do with the China virus at all.”
He also railed against the Democratic proposals to give billions in aid to states to hold elections during the COVID-19 crisis when millions of more voters want to vote by mail.
“They want to steal the election,” Trump said. “That’s all this is about.”
Trump signed the measures after summoning reporters to a to his New Jersey golf resort, where he is spending the weekend. The room was packed with members of Trump’s club, and supporters cheered the president and jeered at reporters.
Trump had already spoken about taking executive action to implement or extend some stimulus provisions after talks with Congress hit a dead end Friday.
On the emergency unemployment benefits, the payment was set at $600 a week before it expired last weekend after Congress failed to reach a deal to extend it.
Extending the ban on evictions has wide support among Democrats, although they also want emergency cash assistance to renters.
On the other hand, the moratorium on payroll tax collection is unpopular. Republicans and Democratic lawmakers alike dislike the proposal because it economists say it will have little immediate boost on the troubled economy, and has a very high price tag.
There is significant dispute about the legality of any unilateral presidential action enacting new spending like the unemployment benefit since the Constitution grants the power of the purse to Congress, not the president.
Legal experts and critics quickly opined that any of Trump’s moves that involve fresh federal spending would be quickly tied up in court fights that he would be unlikely to win.
“Our Constitution doesn’t authorize the president to act as king whenever Congress doesn’t legislate,” said Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.), a former Republican and harsh conservative critic of Trump.
Democrats passed a sprawling $3 trillion plan months ago.
After sitting on their hands for several weeks, Republicans and the White House eventually hammered out a much smaller $1 trillion package.
Talks for a compromise have made little progress.