The spending detailed in the long-awaited $900 billion coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress does little for working Americans but a great deal for pet projects of various representatives.
President Trump delivered a fiery speech on Tuesday night saying that he would not sign the COVID relief bill passed by Congress until Americans got more direct relief.
Trump demanded $2000 stimulus checks instead of the legislature-approved $600, as well as that Congress cut the waste from the spending bill. The President said that Americans should be the beneficiaries of the funds and that dollars should not be sent over seas to try to mend problems in other nations.
President Trump Slams "DISGRACE" Relief Bill - Demands $2000 Checks
The spending detailed in the long-awaited $900 billion coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress on Monday night, which was accompanied by a $2.3 trillion omnibus year end spending package, does little for working Americans but a great deal for pet projects of various representatives.
The bill was designed to fund the Federal government through next September, and at the same time, attempt to provide relief to millions of Americans suffering from the economic crisis. However, the process attached the pandemic aid to a host of other political wish list items.
Rather than celebration, the passage of the bill was met with intense criticism from both sides of the political aisle. The COVID relief portion included $600 checks for desperate Americans, extended unemployment and more money for payroll protection business loans which the fed will forgive so long as the monies are spent keeping people employed, but also billions of dollars in political waste that won't help Americans at all.
Lawmakers were only given a few hours to review the nearly 6,000 page legislation before they voted on the bill. The legislation received overwhelming support from both Republicans and Democrats in both chambers even though many likely did not read it.
My guess Big Spenders in Both Parties will pass this without anybody ever really reading it.
Not me, I’m a no.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul)
In an impassioned speech in the Senate, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) condemned the legislation, especially the COVID relief stimulus checks, in addition to fellow conservatives. "When you vote to pass out free money, you lose your soul and you abandon forever any semblance of moral or fiscal integrity."
To so-called conservatives who are quick to identify the socialism of the Democrats, if you vote for this spending monstrosity you are no better. When you vote to pass out free money, you lose your soul and you abandon forever any semblance of moral integrity.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul)
"If free money was the answer ... if money really did grow on trees, why not give more free money? Why not give it out all the time?" The senator asked.
Great news:
Congress will, in 3 years, quit sending stimulus checks to dead people!!!
Strong work, Congress (sarcasm intended).
Until then, the dead will continue to vote and to cash government checks.
Wouldn’t want to rush something like that...
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul)
"Why stop at $600 a person? Why not $1,000? Why not $2,000?" he said in reference to the forthcoming stimulus checks set to be distributed to every American. "Maybe these new Free-Money Republicans should join the Everybody-Gets-A-Guaranteed-Income Caucus? Why not $20,000 a year for everybody, why not $30,000? If we can print out money with impunity, why not do it?" Paul suggested that rather than passing the bill, lawmakers should re-open the economy, cut waste in the budget, and stop piling on debt for future generations.
We are borrowing and worsening this debt crisis, in part, because too many governors and mayors have imposed heavy handed restrictions that crush business...https://t.co/oh3gantiQl
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul)
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed to President Donald Trump's demands for $2000 stimulus checks for every American. Ocasio-Cortez called on her allies in Congress to back Trump as well.
Let’s do it. @RashidaTlaib and I already co-wrote the COVID amendment for $2,000 checks, so it’s ready to go.
Glad to see the President is willing to support our legislation.
We can pass $2k checks this week if the Senate GOP agrees to stand down. https://t.co/GprwrUPali pic.twitter.com/nFFs1ExqCK
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC)
Ocasio-Cortez earlier in the day echoed Paul's remarks that the coronavirus relief bill had not been thoroughly vetted.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
Congress is expected to vote on the second largest bill in US history *today* - $2.5 trillion - and as of about 1pm, members don’t even have the legislative text of it yet.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC)
"Members of Congress have not read this bill. It’s over 5000 pages, arrived at 2pm today, and we are told to expect a vote on it in 2 hours. This isn’t governance. It's hostage-taking," she tweeted. Despite her tweets, Ocasio-Cortez voted for the bill.
This is why Congress needs time to actually read this package before voting on it.
Members of Congress have not read this bill. It’s over 5000 pages, arrived at 2pm today, and we are told to expect a vote on it in 2 hours.
This isn’t governance. It’s hostage-taking. https://t.co/JpBbEHHkVG
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC)
Even Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex), agreed with the radical Democrat by retweeting Ocasio-Cortez Monday night. "It's ABSURD to have a $2.5 trillion spending bill negotiated in secret and then—hours later—demand an up-or-down vote on a bill nobody has had time to read."
.@AOC is right.
It’s ABSURD to have a $2.5 trillion spending bill negotiated in secret and then—hours later—demand an up-or-down vote on a bill nobody has had time to read. #CongressIsBroken https://t.co/EQp8BfRBHj
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz)
Cruz also targeted Democrats in a statement posted Tuesday morning, claiming that the legislation "…advances the interests of the radical Left, special interests, and swamp lobbyists, with funding going towards expanding authority for more H-2B visas for foreign workers while a near record number of Americans remain unemployed."
Cruz added that the bill sets the stage "…for Democrats to implement the ‘Green New Deal' by claiming a ‘need' to meet the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, or zero-emission energy sources."
In his remarks, the President called out the money in the bill slated to benefit other countries. The bill contains $85.5 million for assistance to Cambodia, $134 million to Burma, $1.3 billion for Egypt—which the President alleged will buy almost exclusively Russian military equipment, $505 million to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
The President went on to list $7 million for reef fish management, $25 billion to combat Asian carp, $2.5 million for a provision to promote the breeding of fish in federal hatcheries, $3 million in poultry production technology, $2 million to research the impact of down trees, and $566 million for construction projects at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The waste in the bill was shared across social media following the passage of the legislation.
According to Grabien Media founder Tom Elliott, found in the year end spending section of the omnibus were millions of dollars to fund "gender programs" in Pakistan, funding new cars for federal HIV/AIDS workers stationed abroad, as well as funds to investigate the “1908 Springfield Race Riot."
The Covid relief bill sets aside funds to investigate the “1908 Springfield Race Riot" pic.twitter.com/7l2DoJHEqx
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott)
Additionally, the year end spending includes, "The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020," funds for a museum that will offer "programming, education, exhibitions" on "the life, art, history, and culture of women," $40 million for the Kennedy Center, which is not currently open and ran through their earlier stimulus money and still fired people.
It included funds for educating "…consumers about the dangers associated with using or storing portable fuel containers for flammable liquids near an open flame."
$1.5 million will go towards the Appropriations Committee's "Office of Diversity and Inclusion." The COVID relief bill also mandates new hiring measures to ensure diversity in the intelligence community and funds the establishment of a Climate Security Advisory Council.
Townhall reporter Beth Baumann found in the spending bill, an allocation of $130 million dollars for an "Invasive Species assessment, mitigation and reductions." She also located in the foreign aid section of the spending bill, millions of dollars set aside to monitor the climate change taking place in Tibet. That was coupled together with massive spending in other countries around the world including, funding the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia.
Accurate https://t.co/oKud5fbvDl
— Beth Baumann (@eb454)
Some of the most controversial provisions for some were related to foreign aid in the defense portion of the omnibus spending bill. Lawmakers were criticized by a not just other politicians, but also left-leaning journalists and celebrities.
Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald and actress turned activist Alyssa Milano, among others, objected to $500 million that was allocated for joint defense programs between the US and Israel which was designated to fund the Iron Dome system, which protects Israeli citizens from Palestinian terrorist rockets.
The combined COVID relief and year end spending omnibus could charitably be called a "pork barrel buffet," filled with wish list agenda items, that could only be passed while no one was looking.
The omnibus legislation passed in the Senate by a vote of 91-6. Four Republicans — Senators Marsha Blackburn (TN), Rick Scott (FL), Mike Lee (UT), and Ron Johnson (WI) voted with Paul and Cruz against the bill.
1/4 This is the spending bill under consideration in Congress today. I received it just moments ago, and will likely be asked to vote on it late tonight. It’s 5,593 pages long. I know there are some good things in it. I’m equally confident that there are bad things in it. pic.twitter.com/SoWXnEWYfV
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee)
Earlier Monday evening, the omnibus had passed in the House by a vote of 359-53. Two Democrats, Rashida Tlaib (MI) and Tulsi Gabbard (HI) voted against the package, as did Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash (MI).
$600 is a slap in the face to every American struggling due to the pandemic. You deserve better.
I voted against the 5,593-page spending bill that gave billions to corporate interests, the military industrial complex & other countries, leaving crumbs for you who need help most. pic.twitter.com/82F1HYF43T
— Tulsi Gabbard ? (@TulsiGabbard)
Fifty Republicans in the house also voted against the legislation.