As White House advisers and congressional leaders spar over the next round of stimulus funds, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he still has some issues with the Senate GOP's proposal released yesterday.
On the mind of so many Americans are stimulus checks, unemployment and the return to school.
But when asked specifically what he disagreed with, Trump punted.
Despite a Trump administration push for the return of in-person learning, a number of school districts across the US have announced plans to begin the 2020-21 school year virtually. On Tuesday, Ohio’s largest district Columbus City Schools said they will start the year off virtually.
Trump has said that federal funds should only go to schools that are open.
Meanwhile, the next round of stimulus is being debated on Capitol Hill. While it appears there is agreement between the White House, House Democrats and Senate Republicans on providing a second round of $1,200 checks for most Americans, there is intense debate on unemployment. Last week, millions of unemployed Americans stopped receiving a $600 weekly supplement to unemployment checks. Those checks were in addition to state unemployment payments.
With those payments no longer being received by Americans, there are questions on the state of the economy given an unemployment rate of 11.1 percent – nearly three times higher than at the start of the year.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACT:
- $1,200 stimulus checks for the same group of Americans who received a check in the spring
- $106 billion in funds for schools to hire staff and conduct social distancing
- Replenishing the Paycheck Protection Program, intended to help businesses keep employees on payroll
- Extending unemployment supplement, although at a lower amount
- Liability protection for businesses reopening amid the pandemic