The inclusion of federal aid for the US post office and funding for the November presidential vote into the coronavirus relief package demanded by the Democratic Party is hindering the negotiations on the COVID-19 bill, President Donald Trump told Fox Business Network on Thursday.
"The items are the post office and the $3.5 billion for mail-in voting", Trump said. "If we don't make the deal, that means can't have the money, that means they can't have universal mail-in voting. It's just can't happen".
Democrats have strongly supported the practice of mail-in voting, arguing that it will enfranchise large numbers of ethnic minorities and poor people who otherwise would not go out to vote or would be unable to do so.
Congress has so far passed four phases of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which have approved roughly $3 trillion in grants and loans to businesses, paycheck protection for workers, and personal aid to qualifying US citizens.
US President Donald Trump signed the four orders to extend COVID-19 relief last week after negotiations over whether the weekly unemployment benefit, which expired on 31 July, should remain at $600 per person or be cut.
