The next coronavirus stimulus package might face a presidential veto if it does not include a payroll tax cut for working Americans, according to President Donald Trump.
"I want to see it," Trump told "Fox News Sunday."
"I would consider not signing it if we don't have a payroll tax cut, yes."
Host Chris Wallace said Republicans are "cool" on a payroll tax cut, but Trump demurred on that claim.
"Well, a lot of Republicans like it," Trump told Wallace.
The Trump administration wants to incentivize Americans to get back to work, produce, and earn.
Trump is also adamant for immunity protections from lawsuits for businesses amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
"We do need some protections, because you don't know where this virus comes from," Trump added. "They'll sit down at a restaurant, they'll sue the restaurant, and put [it] out of business. So, we do need some kind of immunity.
"You do need it., just like you need immunity for the police. OK, whether they like it or not, you need immunity for police."
Trump rejected the Democrats' opposition to qualified immunity for police and for businesses and Americans trying to earn a living amid the pandemic.
"The Democrats don't want to do it because they're totally captured by the lobby of lawyers," Trump added.
Trump has been a vocal opponent of the $600 federal weekly payout to Americans out of work due to coronavirus shutdowns. It has served to keep unemployment high as workers decide they can get more money by not going to work.
That payout expires at the end of July, and Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have sought to extend it past the November presidential election. House Democrats have passed a bill to extend it through to the beginning of the next presidential term – whether that be Trump re-elected or Joe Biden taking office.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is not on board with the $600 per week payouts and would at least work to reduce it to $400 or $200, if not adding a return to work benefit, along with payroll tax cuts, according to The Washington Post.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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