Updated Apr 2, 2019 - Politics & Policy

Trump blasts Dems for disaster aid bill block over Puerto Rico funds

Rebecca Falconer

President Trump criticized Democrats for voting against a GOP disaster aid bill for Puerto Rico. — Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump on Monday night criticized Democrats for blocking a GOP disaster aid bill because they said funding for Puerto Rico did not go far enough for the hurricane-devastated U.S. territory.

What he's saying: "The Democrats today killed a Bill that would have provided great relief to Farmers and yet more money to Puerto Rico despite the fact that Puerto Rico has already been scheduled to receive more hurricane relief funding than any 'place' in history," Trump began, in the first of a series of tweets on the issue.

Details: Trump tweeted the Democrats should stop fighting the bill, which would provide $13.45 billion in funding for states and territories for the recent wildfires, hurricanes and storms, including this month's Midwest flooding.

The backdrop: Senate Democrats voted against the $13.5 billion disaster-recovery funding measure because they said the $600 million allocated in the bill for nutrition assistance to Puerto Rico was insufficient.

The big picture: Trump has repeatedly criticized authorities on the Caribbean island for their handling of recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria. He doesn't want to give Puerto Rico any more federal aid.

Trump has traded barbs with Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, who announced last week legislative plans for Puerto Rican statehood — which would be the first of its kind to automatically make Puerto Rico a state without conditional requirements.

Go deeper: Trump wants no more relief funds for Puerto Rico

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Trump blasts Dems for disaster aid bill block over Puerto Rico funds

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