White House Wants Congress to Come up With an Agreement on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment Benefits

By Neil P. Aug 24 2020, 02:26 AM EDT

President Donald Trump wants millions of Americans to receive a higher amount of stimulus checks and unemployment benefits.

The White House and top Republican leaders, including the lawmakers, are still working on an agreement on the next round of coronavirus relief aid.

Trump has long advocated for another round of relief aid.The idea of having another $1,200 stimulus check has bipartisan support. But Trump wants millions of Americans to receive a higher amount.

During his visit to West Texas last month, he said: "I'd like to see it be very high because I love the people. I want the people to get it, you know, the economy is going to come back."

Trump has also told Congress to act immediately on the second round of relief bill, which includes other stimulus checks and other benefits. But for whatever reason, Congress failed to act on it.

It has led to Trump's signing an executive order that expanded the unemployment benefits by using the unspent budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows recently challenged the Democratic lawmakers to go back to Capitol Hill and pass the bill for another round of stimulus checks. He even said that Trump already gave a signal to sign the bill once it is on his table.

Meadows told reporters on Saturday that the ball in passing the legislation on the second round of stimulus check is now on the hands of Democratic leaders.

"I even think that we can come up with an agreement on stimulus checks to Americans and enhanced unemployment. Those issues are not as divisive as we might think," Meadows said.

The talks on the second round of stimulus checks were stalled after Democratic and Republican leaders failed to agree on the package's overall amount.

The Democratic leaders are proposing $3 trillion to help more people, but the Republicans offer $1 trillion and will give bonuses to those who will go back to work.

Despite a division on the package's overall amount, Meadows insisted on passing what both parties can agree for the meantime and prioritize the stimulus checks.

As lawmakers appeared at the Capitol Saturday, Republican lawmakers and the White House were expecting a second stimulus check to be included. But as expected, it did not happen.

Each side pointed at their political adversaries as the cause of the issue. Even the Democrats are also divided. Some support the second round of stimulus checks while others do not.

Democratic Representative Lou Correa from Anaheim, California said she would fight to make sure the second round of stimulus package happens.

Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham of South Carolina also expressed his frustration to watch the negotiation unfold. He said: "I would encourage everyone to remain at the negotiating table, (and) hammer out a deal recognizing that not everyone is going to get everything they want. Do not let perfect be the enemy of good."

Meanwhile, Meadows said he tried to reach out to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, hoping to have a meeting and discuss the additional aid. However, he was told that the Democratic leader was in a meeting.

Meadows assured that he would try to go back to Pelosi's office to discuss the second round of relief aid.