US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer released a joint statement on August 8 in which they criticized President Donald Trump for taking measures to support the economy bypassing Congress.
Earlier that day, Trump announced a year-end extension of $ 400 weekly unemployment benefits, a tax break for Americans earning less than $ 100,000 a year, and a ban on evictions due to non-payment of rent.
“Today’s meager statements by President Trump show that he remains unaware of the severity or urgency of the medical and economic crises facing working families,” the text says.
Democrats repeat our call to Republicans to return to the table, meet us halfway and work together to deliver immediate relief to the American people.
Read my full statement with @SenSchumer: https://t.co/SnYbvFwcZp
– Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 8, 2020
According to Democratic leaders, “Trump decided to stay on his golf course <...> to cut unemployment benefits desperately needed by millions and to jeopardize social security and health care for the elderly.”
Pelosi and Schumer called on the American leader to return to the negotiating table to reach a compromise option for helping citizens.
Last Friday, negotiations between the White House and the Democratic majority in Congress reached an impasse. In particular, Trump insisted on reducing the amount of unemployment benefits from $ 600 to $ 400.