The $900 billion stimulus package that Trump bashed is being flown to Florida for his signature
- The $900 billion stimulus package is on its way to President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, multiple news outlets reported on Thursday.
- Trump this week blasted the massive 5,593-page bill, which includes $1.4 trillion in government funding, as a "disgrace" and demanded an increase in direct payments to $2,000 from $600.
- Earlier Thursday, House Democrats moved to advance Trump's bid for $2,000 stimulus checks, but Republicans shut it down.
- Trump has not indicated whether he will sign the bill, leaving aid for millions of Americans and government funding in limbo.
The roughly $900 billion stimulus package is on its way to President Donald Trump for his signature, though it's unclear whether he will sign it, multiple news outlets reported on Thursday.
The massive 5,593-page bill, which includes aid for Americans and $1.4 trillion in government funding, is being flown to Florida, where Trump is staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort for Christmas.
After eight months of delays, Republicans and Democrats finally passed a bill on Monday night that would send desperately needed economic relief to millions of Americans struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation would also avoid a government shutdown on Monday and secure federal funding through the next fiscal year.
Among other pandemic-related assistance, the bill includes a $300 weekly unemployment benefit and one-time direct payments of $600 to people earning up to $75,000 per year.
On Tuesday, Trump torpedoed the bipartisan efforts and threatened to veto the bill, which he described as a "disgrace" in a four-minute video posted on Twitter. The president demanded congressional leaders bump up the direct payments to $2,000.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday morning tried to advance the $2,000 stimulus checks, but House Republicans blocked the move.
Pelosi then said she would bring the House back in session on Monday to vote on a stand-alone bill with the increased direct payments, though it's unlikely to get Republican support. GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has previously shut down bids for larger stimulus checks.
Meanwhile, the legislation as it stands has been enrolled and awaits Trump's approval.
Trump has 10 days to sign or veto the bill. Should Trump veto it, Congress could override it with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.
If Trump does nothing, a pocket veto would go into effect. Additional aid would be held up, and the government might shut down, possibly until President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20.
The White House said in a statement on Wednesday that Trump "will continue to work tirelessly for the American People" through the holidays. Trump spent Thursday morning at his golf course and appears to have remained focused on the 2020 election results.
"At a meeting in Florida today, everyone was asking why aren't the Republicans up in arms & fighting over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election?" Trump tweeted on Thursday afternoon. "Especially in the Senate, they said, where you helped 8 Senators win their races. How quickly they forget!"