Donald Trump has a real problem with Puerto Rico. The biggest hurricane in recent history, Hurricane Maria, decimated the island, causing the deaths of more people than died on 9/11. Yet, Trump hates the idea of assisting the Puerto Ricans. Outspoken former San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz demanded help, and POTUS rebelled when this strong woman criticized him. Plus, POTUS has an obvious bias against people of color. His latest tweet was truly cruel.
Senator David Perdue (R-GA) sponsored a $13.6 billion disaster aid bill after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed his $14.2 disaster aid bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives in January. Unfortunately, the Republicans have a real problem: Donald Trump. POTUS tweeted:
‘Democrats should stop fighting Sen. David Perdue’s disaster relief bill. They are blocking funding and relief for our great farmers and rural America!’
The House bill contained more agriculture assistance than either of the Republicans’ bills. It also provided $600 million for Puerto Rico to put back in place the food benefits that ran out in early March. Trump even resisted that. After awhile he yielded, but he insisted the island could have nothing more according to Roll Call.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) warned Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) that if Puerto Rico did not get more aid, Democrats might not vote for the Republicans’ bill. Senate Appropriations ranking member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a statement that read:
‘It appears that the President will not accept even this reasonable offer. Instead, he will endanger the entire disaster package because he wants to pick winners and losers. He wants to decide who gets assistance in the wake of disasters based on his own arbitrary standards, and political grudges.’
Perdue could lose in a competitive reelection bid if Georgia and plains states, including Iowa, do not get vital aid. He noted that aid to Puerto Rico is still a problem:
‘It’s one of the issues that they’re trying to accommodate. Look, the president’s trying to meet the needs, he’s trying to meet all the needs that need to be addressed. And that’s what this is about, is just, really, to what degree and how.’
Twitter world went nuts. Check out some of our favorites below:
