U.S. President Donald Trump lambasted Democrats again this Monday of the stalemate over a disaster relief bill and said Puerto Rico has already received too much assistance.
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Blue Party members have refused to support the legislation because they believe it does not include enough funds for the Commonwealth territory, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
The president, who according to press reports, tried to find ways to limit sending aid to the island, said Monday on Twitter that the Democrats are responsible for a delay in negotiations to finance disaster assistance.
Trump attacked his political rivals with the argument that, as a result of that stalemate, the blue formation is delaying money for several states of the union which have suffered floods and other natural disasters.
Puerto Rico received more money from Congress for hurricane disaster relief than any other state in U.S. history, the president said at the microblogging service, adding that $91 billion was sent to the island, a figure that several sources consider incorrect.
Now Democrats say no to relief for Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and others unless much more money is given to Puerto Rico. Democrats don't want farmers to get any help, the White House chief added.
According to Trump, 'Puerto Rico should be very happy and Democrats should stop blocking much-needed disaster relief.
On previous occasions, the governor also cited $91 billion for Puerto Rico, but the PolitiFact project and The Washington Post say only just over $11 billion has been spent in the territory.
According to the Post, the number repeated by the president may have come from an internal estimate of the Office of Management and Budget about possible assistance commitments that could be assumed in the long term.
Last week, the main senators negotiating the bill said they were closer to an agreement after Republicans presented a proposal behind closed doors that would increase Puerto Rico's access to federal recovery cash, Politico said.
Trump's new pronouncements on the issue come after months of harsh criticism for his inappropriate handling of the situation on the island, and a day after Boston Red Sox baseball manager Alex Cora said he won't be attending a White House visit this week for that reason. ■
A very active and complex mid-May weather pattern is set to produce numerous areas of severe weather, heavy rain, high winds, and anomalous temperatures through this weekend.