(SitNews) - Yesterday, after stimulus talks broke down on Capitol Hill, President Trump signed an executive order and issued three memoranda that are intended to provide financial relief to Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The president's actions have already been criticized by Democrats.

Actions taken by President Trump address extending federal unemployment benefits, defering payroll taxes, extending moratoriums on evictions, and deferring student loan payments.

In a Memorandum, President Trump's order would extend unemployment federal benefits at a rate of $400 per week, with states covering 25% ($100) of the cost and the federal government would cover the remaining 75% ($300). The plan would be funded using federal monies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief fund. However, it is unknown is governors will push back on this.

During negotiations, Democrats had proposed $600 weekly and Republicans were proposing $200 weekly in federal unemployment relief. Along with other items, Congress came to no agreement after weeks of discussions and negotiations. The $600 weekly federal unemployment relief expired on July 31, 2020 creating a financial hardship for many Americans.

This action could be challenged legally since the Constitution gives Congress control over federal spending. Pelosi said on Fox News Sunday, it would take a while if at all to accomplish putting money in the American people's pockets. However, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said today that the Labor Department working with states believe that it could happen much faster, adding that people could expect checks in a couple of weeks.

Quoting the Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program, as of the latest report from the Treasury Inspector General regarding State expenditures, more than $80 billion of CRF dollars remain available, to supplement the billions of dollars States have received in other Federal assistance, such as the $8.8 billion in emergency assistance provided under the Stafford Act.  In addition, the Department of Homeland Security’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), has more than $70 billion in emergency assistance funding available.

In a Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, the president also announced that he would "delay" payroll taxes until the end of the year for those earning up to $4,000 biweekly, or $104,000 annually. Trump went on to say that he would forgive the taxes entirely if re-elected in November and "possibly" make the payroll tax holiday permanent. 

President Trump also directed the Secretary of the Treasury to use his authority to defer certain payroll tax obligations with respect to the American workers most in need.  This targeted action intent is to put money directly in the pockets of American workers and generate additional incentives for work and employment, right when the money is needed most.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Fox News Sunday, "What the president did is unconstitutional slop." And said that making a payroll tax cut would undermine Social Security and Medicare. Payroll taxes fund social security and Medicare.

Executive Order Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners: The CARES Act banned late fees and eviction filings until July 25th on properties backed by federal mortgage programs - like Fannie Mae - or those that receive federal funds like HUD. That moratorium has now expired, and there is a significant risk that this will set off an abnormally large wave of evictions.  With the failure of the Congress to act, Trump said his Administration must do all that it can to help vulnerable populations stay in their homes in the midst of this pandemic.  Those who are dislocated from their homes may be unable to shelter in place and may have more difficulty maintaining a routine of social distancing.  They will have to find alternative living arrangements, which may include a homeless shelter or a crowded family home and may also require traveling to other States.

Included in his executive order President Trump stated, "In addition, evictions tend to disproportionately affect minorities, particularly African Americans and Latinos.  Unlike the Congress, I cannot sit idly and refuse to assist vulnerable Americans in need.  Under my Administration, minorities achieved the lowest unemployment rates on record, and we will not let COVID-19 erase these gains by causing short-term dislocations that could well have long-term consequences."

"The secretary of Health and Human Services and the director of CDC shall consider whether any measures temporarily halting residential evictions of any tenants for failure to pay rent are reasonably necessary to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 from one state or possession into any other state or possession," the White House's memo regarding evictions said.

Memorandum on student loan deferral

The White House's memorandum on student loan deferral moves to waive student loan interest until Dec. 31, 2020, extending the current relief under the CARES Act that is set to expire Sept. 30 by two months. Payments are scheduled to restart on Jan. 1, 2021.

Trump's memorandum applies to loans "held by the Department of Education," which doesn't include privately held student loans, such as through a bank.

With President Donald Trump bypassing Congress and issuing orders to defer payroll taxes and replace an expired unemployment benefit, that leaves a second round of direct payments to Americans in limbo.

Although Trump had previously said additional stimulus checks would be coming, direct payments were not mentioned in his four orders issued yesterday.

Congress must reconvene, if for no other reason than to discuss stimulus checks and to figure out what, if any, power Trump has to enforce his orders.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement yesterday after President Trump took executive action this weekend to extend federal unemployment benefits, defer payroll taxes, extend moratoriums on evictions, and defer student loan payments:

“I'm disappointed that Congress could not reach an agreement this week to provide much needed relief to the American people, prompting the President to take these actions. These steps will help provide temporary relief to struggling Americans in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic—from renters and homeowners to small business owners, workers and students, and those that have lost their jobs. Both the pandemic and its economic impact continue, so our efforts to alleviate those impacts must as well. But Congress still needs to come together to be responsive and provide long-term relief to meet the needs of the most vulnerable—the vulnerability that has come about because of a global health pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis we see now. People are hurting and they need us to respond.”

“Today’s meager announcements by the President show President Trump still does not comprehend the seriousness or the urgency of the health and economic crises facing working families.  We’re disappointed that instead of putting in the work to solve Americans’ problems, the President instead chose to stay on his luxury golf course to announce unworkable, weak and narrow policy announcements to slash the unemployment benefits that millions desperately need and endanger seniors’ Social Security and Medicare.

These policy announcements provide little real help to families. For instance, not only does the President’s announcement not actually extend the eviction moratorium, it provides no assistance to help pay the rent, which will only leave desperate families to watch their debt pile higher. Instead of passing a bill, now President Trump is cutting families’ unemployment benefits and pushing states further into budget crises, forcing them to make devastating cuts to life-or-death services.

“Furthermore, these announcements do nothing to increase testing, nothing to reopen schools, nothing to put food on the table for hungry families, nothing to prevent heroes being laid off across state and local government, nothing to protect the Postal Service or the integrity of our elections, nothing on many critical needs of the American people.

Since the House passed The Heroes Act twelve weeks ago, more than 3.5 million Americans have become infected and 70,000 have tragically died.  The coronavirus is moving through our country like a runaway freight train and the economy is quickly running out of steam.  The only solution to crush the virus and protect working families is to pass a comprehensive bill that is equal to the historic health and economic catastrophe facing our country. 

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.  Lives are being lost, and time is of the essence.”

The House adjourned Friday and the next meeting of the House is scheduled for 12:00 PM on August 11, 2020. The US Senate adjourned Thursday and will convene business at 3:00 PM on August 10, 2020.

Source of News:

White House
www.whitehouse.gov

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
https://www.speaker.gov/

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
https://www.schumer.senate.gov

Office of US Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
www.murkowski.senate.gov

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