The Pocket Veto and the Orange Santa Claus

[David Lockmiller]

President Trump is the Orange Santa "Clause." He has the choice of either signing the Pandemic relief legislation or exercising his right under a provision (clause) of the Constitution, "according to which unsigned bills still on the president’s desk when Congress adjourns do not become law." The Congress plans to adjourn next week.

Headline: "Unemployment Aid Set to Lapse Saturday as Trump’s Plans for Relief Bill Remain Unclear"
New York Times – December 25, 2020

About 24 hours after Congress approved the measure, Mr. Trump emerged in a video from the White House to declare that it was a “disgrace.” He called for direct payments to be more than tripled to $2,000 per adult and assailed as wasteful provisions in the funding bill — such as foreign aid and money for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — though most of those provisions came almost dollar for dollar from his own budget request.

The aid bill also includes billions of dollars to help states with coronavirus vaccine distribution, a replenished small-business loan program and relief money for airlines. It was passed along with a spending measure to keep the government funded for the remainder of the fiscal year; the cost of the combined package is $2.3 trillion.

Lawmakers in Congress and White House officials have indicated that they remain uncertain if Mr. Trump will relent and sign the legislation, issue a formal veto or just leave it unsigned. While Congress could potentially override Mr. Trump’s veto, sitting on the bill — a so-called pocket veto — would require the next Congress to reintroduce and vote on the legislation early next year.


Additional information according to the United States Senate:

United State Senate -- Glossary Term | Pocket Veto

Pocket Veto - The Constitution grants the president 10 days to review a measure passed by the Congress. If the president has not signed the bill after 10 days, it becomes law without his signature. However, if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period, the bill does not become law.