Trump demands changes to coronavirus relief bill

President Donald Trump on Tuesday night threw a curveball at plans for coronavirus relief, saying the COVID relief package passed by Congress is a disgrace and calling on Congress to send him a “suitable” bill. Lawmakers in the House and Senate late on Monday night approved the $900 billion coronavirus stimulus bill and a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending package for the rest of the fiscal year. The package planned to give qualifying taxpayers $600 payments and boost benefits for the unemployed and small businesses.

Why did he oppose the package? In a video address, Trump asked lawmakers to avoid wasteful spending and pointed out additional expenses within the nearly 6,000-page bill, including $1 billion for the Smithsonian and $25 million for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan. “I am asking Congress to amend this bill and increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000 or $4,000 for a couple,” he said.

Dig deeper: Read Joel Belz’s column on a Biblical approach to debt spending.