Trump, Senate Democrats Continue To Be At Odds Over Puerto Rico Aid And Relief Bill

President Trump on Monday pressured Senate Democrats to support a new multi-billion dollar disaster relief bill.

The GOP bill, led by Sen. David Perdue of Georgia, would provide $13.45 billion to help areas of the U.S. affected by recent hurricanes, wildfires, and storms. The bill would need 60 votes from the Senate to avoid a filibuster.

Democrats have said they would not back the package unless it included more money for Puerto Rico, which was hit by two hurricanes in 2017.

An amendment from Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development to release block-grant funding and additional funds to repair Puerto Rico’s still damaged water systems.

The Hill spoke with a top Senate Democratic aide who explained how the bill could get the 60 votes. It would have to either pass the House's "emergency supplemental, amend the GOP proposal to include priorities from Democrats, or pass a shell bill to allow for the House and Senate to kick the issue to a conference committee."

This comes on the heels of reports that Trump once again criticized the island territory during a closed-door lunch with Republican Senators. The crux of the lunch reportedly was Trump’s belief that Puerto Rico was receiving "too much" money.

Two major hurricanes in 2017 ravaged Puerto Rico, with a death toll close to 3,000. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló told CNN recently that he would "punch the bully in the mouth" if they ever met.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina came to the President’s defense, saying that the money should be spent wisely.

"I have nothing against helping the people in Puerto Rico. I just want to make sure we’re not just throwing money into the system. It’s got to pass the smell test," Graham said.