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Trump Reverses Course, Signs Stimulus and Gov’t Funding Bill But Makes Demands of Lawmakers

HeadlineDec 28, 2020

President Trump signed the $900 billion coronavirus relief measure and the government funding bill Sunday evening, after threatening to derail the bipartisan package last week, and narrowly averted a government shutdown. Millions were plunged into uncertainty over the Christmas holiday as Trump held up the signing of the bill, allowing unemployment programs to lapse, which will lead to delays in benefits for out-of-work Americans. The relief package includes direct payments of $600 per person, expanded unemployment benefits, and aid for small businesses. Trump released a statement upon signing the bill, reiterating his demand for $2,000 checks, and said he was sending back a redlined version of the bill to cut wasteful items. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there will be a full House vote today on increasing direct payments, after Republicans blocked a move to pass the proposal by unanimous consent on Thursday. In his statement, Trump also said the Senate was to investigate voter fraud in the November election, though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not mention this in his own statement about the legislation being signed. Trump has been calling for protests in D.C. on January 6 — despite the worsening pandemic — when Congress meets to validate the election. Trump is also calling on lawmakers to review Section 230, a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act which offers liability protection to social media companies. Trump vetoed that bill last week. Lawmakers are expected to vote on overriding his veto this week.

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