LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — President Trump went on Twitter Tuesday to denounce what he called wasteful spending and "ridiculously low" direct cash payments to taxpayers for COVID-19 relief while foreign countries and pet projects are awarded hundreds of millions of dollars.
RELATED: Trump says he does not support the bipartisan stimulus bill passed by Congress
The four-minute video describes the millions in foreign and lists a series of projects that appear to have nothing to do with COVID-19 economic relief.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020
"$2.5 million to count the number of Amberjack fish in the Gulf of Mexico, a provision to promote the breeding of fish in federal hatcheries," said President Trump regarding the COVID-19 spending bill.
The stimulus showdown comes after months of gridlock in Congress.
Both houses of Congress passed the massive deal just days ago.
"Congress found plenty of money for foreign countries, lobbyists and special interests while sending the bare minimum to the American people who need it," said President Trump.
"It wasn't their fault, it was China's fault, not their fault," added the President.
The President demanded the direct cash payments to be increased to $2,000 for each qualifying taxpayer and for all of the "wasteful" provisions to be dropped from the bill before he would sign it.
Congresswoman Dina Titus tweeted Tuesday evening that she supports increasing the direct cash payments.
Democrats in the House have been pushing hard for larger direct payments for months, but Senate Republicans wanted no direct payments at all. I support $2,000 direct payments to help get our economy back on track.
— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) December 23, 2020
Congresswoman Susie Lee echoed the same feelings on Twitter.
The President is on board to get more direct relief to Americans, something we’ve been fighting for for months.
— Rep. Susie Lee (@RepSusieLee) December 23, 2020
$2,000 direct payments is a no brainer. Let’s do it.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said his party worked for months to secure direct cash payments but were blocked by Republicans.
We spent months trying to secure $2000 checks but Republicans blocked it
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 23, 2020
Trump needs to sign the bill to help people and keep the government open and we're glad to pass more aid Americans need
Maybe Trump can finally make himself useful and get Republicans not to block it again
Former Nevada Assembly Speaker and current head of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Strike Team, Barbara Buckley says any delay in relief for unemployment benefits, rental assistance or small business support is going to have dire consequences.
"What bothers me is that peoples lives are at stake here and in Nevada we have tens of thousands, 80 to 100,000 people who are going to lose their benefits on Saturday," explained Buckley.
"I think everyone felt like the rug was being pulled from underneath them," added Buckley.
The president indicated in the Twitter video that if a compromise is not reached, the situation would need to be handled by the incoming administration.
President-elect Joe Biden is scheduled to be sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2021.
