Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that he plans to introduce legislation that would prevent President Trump’s signature from appearing on any future economic relief checks to taxpayers or businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“President Trump unfortunately appears to see the pandemic as just another opportunity to promote his own political interests,” Schumer said in a statement to Politico. “The No PR Act puts an end to the president’s exploitation of taxpayer money for promotional material that only benefits his reelection campaign.”
The legislation would also prevent Vice President Mike Pence’s name from appearing on any checks to taxpayers, Schumer said.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ordered that Trump’s name be printed on millions of checks sent in recent weeks as part of a $2 trillion economic relief package passed by Congress in March.
Critics of the president said the move was needless and further delayed allocating funds many taxpayers desperately need.
“To set the record straight, I request details about how you made this decision to benefit the president politically, which may delay delivery of critical funds to millions of Americans struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table,” said Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden in a letter to Mnuchin last week.
“We did put the president’s name on the check. That was my idea,” Mnuchin said of the move. “He is the president, and I think it’s a terrific symbol to the American public.”
Schumer disagreed.
“Delaying the release of stimulus checks so his signature could be added is a waste of time and money,” he said.
