WASHINGTON.— The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, on Wednesday accused the president, Donald Trump, of deepening the confusion around another round of direct checks for $ 1,200 for Americans, and said that the president is only interested in seeing your name on those checks.
On an ABC program, Pelosi expressed frustration with Trump's changing positions on another economic recovery plan, at a time when layoffs or work suspensions continue, and
there is no sign of a bipartisan agreement in Congress.
The confusion and mixed messages about whether and when there will be a bipartisan deal has caused turmoil in the stock markets, and injected nervousness about the anemic economic recovery.
Less than a month before the general elections, in which the recession is one of the dominant issues, Congress is far from reaching an agreement for another round of direct checks, like the one approved last March.
The New York Stock Exchange registered a rebound after suffering a fall due to Trump's announcement that he would abandon the negotiations for an economic stimulus plan (AP Photo / John Minchillo) AP / AP
Asked whether Democrats would support a measure focused only on direct checks, Pelosi suggested that her caucus wants a comprehensive measure that addresses various aspects of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“
All the president wants is his name on a check.
Cast.
We are here to honor our heroes, squash the virus, put money in the pockets of the American people, beyond a check with their name, ”Pelosi complained.
In several messages on Twitter on Tuesday, Trump put the negotiations between Congress and the White House on the stimulus plan to freeze "until after he wins" the election, causing the stock market to crash.
Hours later, he told Pelosi that he would be willing to sign a new round of checks for $ 1,200.
Trump Retracts, Says He Will Sign Checks For $ 1,200 To Help With Coronavirus
Oct. 7, 202002: 22
Trump also urged Congress to “immediately” approve $ 25 billion for airlines, and $ 135 billion in small business loans, to be financed with unspent funds from the first stimulus plan.
But
the amount of the new stimulus plan and direct checks are among the main points of contention between Democrats and the White House.
Pelosi has not spoken directly to Trump since last October, and has made it clear that she would not approach the White House anywhere because, in her opinion, right now “it
is one of the most dangerous places in the country,
not only because of how it attacks the truth but also health ”.
In that sense, Pelosi suggested that the changing statements of Trump - who
was discharged from the Walter Reed military hospital
yesterday after his diagnosis of COVID-19 last Friday - could be the effect of his medical treatment.
“I told my colleagues yesterday that there are people who say that a steroid affects people's minds.
I don't know, but there are health providers who say that, and if you have coronavirus, that also has an impact, "said Pelosi.
As part of his treatment, Trump received doses of the antiviral Remdesivir, a cocktail of antibodies from the company Regeneron, and dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory normally used for severe cases.
Trump drew criticism on social media Wednesday not only for his apparent erratic behavior but because, contrary to medical advice, he broke the quarantine by leaving the residential part of the White House to continue negotiations on the stimulus plan from the Oval Office.
What happens to Trump?
"It is very difficult to see a clear and healthy path in everything (Trump) is doing, but the fact is that
he saw the political disadvantage of when he said he was leaving the negotiations
... he is trying to recover from the terrible mistake he made yesterday," he said. Pelosi, who added that such a mistake would cost her Republican allies in Congress dearly.
Pelosi stressed that Americans need substantial financial assistance, especially "essential" workers in various sectors of the economy.
Speaking to Noticias Telemundo, Canek Aguirre, a city councilman from Alexandria (Virginia), considered that abandoning the negotiations would be "a slap in the face" for families of the middle and working classes, the unemployed and small businesses.
According to Aguirre, Trump has no empathy with the thousands of Latino families affected by the pandemic, who have lost loved ones, their jobs, health insurance, and even housing.
"If he had a little empathy, he would be trying to help our families, and he is not doing it," argued Aguirre, of Mexican American origin.
Experts warn that an entire generation of Latinos is at risk from COVID-19 in the United States.
Oct. 1, 202002: 06
Last week, the House of Representatives, under Democratic control, approved a modified version of the bill "Heroes Act" for 2.2 billion dollars, which they passed last May and which was immediately rejected by the Republicans.
[House of Representatives approves $ 2.2 billion economic relief package. What will happen to the check?]
That measure includes an extension of additional unemployment benefits, for $ 600 a week;
grants for small businesses and state and local governments;
more funds for the reopening of schools and for the public health sector.
But the new Democratic measure, which cut more than $ 1 billion from the original initiative, also has no Republican support.