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Wyden Blasts Trump Over President's Signature On Stimulus Checks

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Stimulus checks intended for millions of Americans hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic will reportedly be delayed, so that President Trump’s signature can be added to each one by the Treasury Department.

The Washington Postbroke the story this week, causing critics to lash out against what they see as an unnecessary delay – and self-aggrandizing gesture - by the president. 

Among those critics is Oregon U.S. Senator, Ron Wyden, who’s also the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee.

“When you’re in the middle of a pandemic, it’s not about yourself," Wyden tells KLCC.  "It’s about making sure that all of those Oregonians and all of those Americans who are walking on an economic tightrope, trying to pay for groceries, and rent and the like, that they get that assistance and it’s not about political people feeding their ego.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury department disputes the Post’s report that says the addition of President Trump’s signature will delay the checks by days.  And many recipients have arranged direct deposit.

Copyright 2020, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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