This evening, Tuesday, December 22, Trump threw an industrial sized wrench into the political works in Congress involving the passage of the $900 Billion so-called Covid economic relief bill. In a video address from the White House he publicly warned he would veto the bill if it didn’t include $2000 emergency checks instead of the $600 now provided by the bill. So what’s up? There are several possible explanations. First, his move may be part of a broader plan to curry popular support for moves to challenge the confirmation of the recent election in Congress on January 6 or even to refuse to leave the White House on January 20. Second, it may represent a move to deepen his control of the Republican Party as he fights with traditional Republican elites to wrest control from him. Third, he may just be pissed off with Mitch McConnell and other Republicans who have begun to abandon him and accepting Biden’s winning. Or all three (and possibly other reasons as well). Whatever, the explanation the coming weeks will be of interest both politically and economically.
By injecting himself into the outcome of the $900B he will in effect cause a realignment of forces behind the bill. It will become clear what politicians in either party, Republican and Democrat, are intent on throwing crumbs to workers, renters, the unemployed, and small businesses vs. those in both parties who are primarily aligned with corporate interests. Trump’s move will no doubt upset the cozy deal making between the money interests in both parties.
TO LISTEN TO MY LATEST Radio Interviews on the $900B proposal’s content, GO TO the following 3 interviews (and read my preceding two print articles published in recent days posted here before):
(WBAI New York)
https://www.spreaker.com/user/radiosputnik/economist-underwhelming-covid-relief-pac
(BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY Radio, Washington DC)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DLVmili2-0KUlQfX_iweBx-To1KXdC_p/view
(CRITICAL HOUR Radio, Washington DC>)
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