Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is arguing President Donald Trump’s executive orders signed on Saturday are not going to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the long run.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Pelosi tore into Trump’s decision to issue executive actions after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on the next coronavirus relief package.
“What the president did, I agree with the Republican senator said, it was unconstitutional slop. While it has the illusion of saying we’re going to have a moratorium on evictions, it says I’m going to ask the folks in charge to study if that’s feasible,” Pelosi said.
She added, “While he says he’s going to do the payroll tax, what he’s doing is undermining social security and medicare. So these are illusions.”
Watch her comments below:
There is a major difference between working to provide for the urgent needs of America’s working families and prioritizing stagecraft that gives the *illusion* of helping, but falls way short of actually addressing the widespread hardship from the #covid pandemic. pic.twitter.com/iAPUXot5DI
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) August 9, 2020
Trump’s series of executive orders include provisions for unemployment relief, a payroll tax cut, a moratorium on evictions, and a suspension of interest on student loan payments until the end of the year, as IJR previously reported.
The enhanced unemployment benefits would be cut from $600 to $400 per week.
According to Trump’s executive order, the payroll tax cut would go into effect on Sept. 1, but Trump indicated it “most likely” would be retroactive to Aug. 1.
The moratorium on evictions will provide “temporary financial assistance” to struggling renters and homeowners.
Pelosi reiterated Trump’s orders do not address the issues Democrats are seeking to address.
“Pray for those who are hungry, pray harder for those who who will not feed them. Pray for those who are homeless, pray harder for those who will not give them shelter. Pray for those who are sick and lonely, pray harder for those who will not give them comfort,” Pelosi said.
She added, “What the president did does not address schools, all of the issues that are contained in the legislation.”
