US House passes 3-trillion-dollar aid bill rejected by Republicans
The US House of Representatives passed a 3-trillion-dollar stimulus meant to finance the coronavirus pandemic response, despite President Donald Trump already declaring the legislation “dead on arrival.”
The package, passed in a 208-199 vote, is a largely symbolic opening salvo by the House’s Democratic majority in what will likely be drawn-out negotiations over future aid monies.
Democrats say additional relief action is urgently needed as the nation sees skyrocketing unemployment and vast economic shut downs.
Republicans have slammed the legislation as a “laundry list” of Democratic agenda items and argued there should be more time to weigh the impact of previous stimulus packages.
Among the most contentious issues are providing funding for state and local authorities, with the White House arguing that Democratic states experiencing financial troubles prior to the pandemic should not receive a government “bail out.”
After passing the Democrat-controlled House the bill will now go the Senate, where the Republican majority has said the legislation will not be brought for a vote.
The US Congress has already passed an unprecedented level of aid stimulus, including a 2-trillion-dollar package, that dwarfed spending passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
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Concerns are rising that the aid is not enough as national unemployment skyrocketed to 14.7 per cent in April, up from 4.4 per cent in March, and is projected in increase.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that additional spending may be necessary to avoid “long-term damage” to the economy. (dpa)
