Wyden Statement on Imminent Lapse of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Due to Trump Tantrum

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the imminent lapse of unemployment insurance benefits:

“Jobless benefits for 12 million workers lapse today because Donald Trump is throwing a tantrum. Jobless workers will have no income to pay the rent due in five days. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

“Donald Trump’s only involvement in negotiating the COVID relief bill was to insist on tax breaks for three-martini lunches. He was too busy plotting to overturn the election to pay much attention to the economic devastation facing millions of Americans. Now, he’s golfing and threatening to blow up the critical aid package Secretary Mnuchin negotiated on his behalf.

“If Donald Trump doesn’t sign the COVID relief bill today, many workers won’t receive their income for the week of December 27—not even retroactively. The ability of millions of Americans to keep a roof over their heads and buy groceries hangs in the balance. He needs to sign this bill immediately.”

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