Sen. Tom Carper visited local small businesses Friday while the federal government negotiates a new relief package to help them
Carper says he’s frustrated by President Trump’s flip flopping on his willingness to sign a new coronavirus relief bill. When Carper was visiting a local personal training gym, CNU Fit, in Dover Friday, Trump indicated he’s ready to negotiate.
Carper wants the Trump administration to come to a decision, adding the delay hurts those that need the support the most.
“If the President would just say to his Secretary of Rreasury, go out and negotiate the best deal you can with Speaker Pelosi, with Republicans and Democrats in the Congress and send me the package," said Carper. "I think that’s what we need. And for the President to say on again, off again, on again, off again that’s just not helpful to him, to anybody or to our country. Businesses need certainty and predictability.”
Small businesses like CNU Fit continue to struggle or shut down during the pandemic.
Carper says a clear path for financial relief is needed so struggling businesses can get back on their feet and help their communities.
According to reports, Trump will offer a $1.8 trillion aid package to Congress, closer to Pelosi’s current demand for $2.2 trillion.
Carper is pushing to revive the federal unemployment benefit subsidy that gave many Americans an extra 600 dollar a week at the start of the pandemic.
Since July, he’s proposed bringing it back, but pegging it to the unemployment rate.
“...That we oughta restore some kind of federal unemployment insurance supplement and it should reflect and be reflective of the level of unemployment in a state. The higher the unemployment in the state, the higher the supplement, the weekly benefit would be. The lower the unemployment, anything under 6 percent unemployment, that supplement would go away.”
Carper says he’s working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to put the unemployment benefit into the latest stimulus package being negotiated.
Delaware was among the states that approved giving an extra $300 dollars per week on top of unemployment benefits back in September.
That funding comes through an executive order from President Trump , and lasts just six weeks, or until Congress agrees on a new coronavirus relief package.
But many on Capitol Hill don’t see a package getting passed before the election.
