Republicans are trying to attack the new $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus bill signed as they shoot to find a foothold against the Democrats’ first major victory in 2022.
Republican lawmakers, who voted in unison against the legislation, are betting it will be able to reduce the bill’s popularity in the long run, though polls have shown it gets wide approval, including from its voters.
The focus among Republicans in Congress is twofold: highlighting provisions they hope will harm Democrats and accuse their political opponents of trying to win the economic recovery the Republicans say the Trump administration put in place.
“I’m not surprised that the initial reaction of the American public to this, before knowing what is there, would be positive. The idea that many Americans would receive a check for $ 1,400, why wouldn’t they like it? “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell The Pentagon takes heat to extend Guard time to capture Capitol funds to escape points in Trump-GOP cracks GOP top senators: Capitol police don’t justify enhanced security (R-Ky.), He said during an interview with “PBS NewsHour.”
“What they don’t know is how much of the bill has anything to do with the pandemic,” McConnell said. “The economy will have a fabulous year. It has nothing to do with this huge list of democratic elements. “
Republicans have their work cut out for them.
A Morning Consult and Politico poll found that 75% of registered voters, including 59% of Republicans, supported the bill.
A Pew Research poll found support among Republicans at less than 41%, but found a split within the party with only 30% of Conservatives saying they supported it compared to 61% of Liberal Republicans. moderate or liberal.
His. marc Rubio
Marco Antonio Rubio Night Defense: Leading Republican Party Senators Demand Answers on Expanded Guard Deployment, Capitol Fencing | Guard costs estimated at 1 M | House panel to resume 2002 war authorization On The Money: Biden Celebrates Bill With Democratic Leaders | Democrats debate highway for Hillicon Valley infrastructure package: Google claims Microsoft for “naked corporate opportunism” | Sanders invites Bezos to testify at hearing on inequalities AFL-CIO hits Rubio for union approval MORE (R-Fla.), Who is re-elected next year, called the polls a “joke.”
“I mean that public surveys are only as accurate as the people who do them, the methodology they use and all that. … There are many trillions of dollars of things that are not COVID. When people find out, they will get angry, ”added Rubio.
The Republican Party’s political bet comes because the party will have to defend 20 seats in the Senate in next year’s by-elections, including two in states won by President Biden
Joe Biden: Pentagon is taking heat to extend Guardian time at Capitol Booker to try to make the child tax credit expansion permanent. Sullivan says tariffs will not take center stage in talks with China MORE: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Senate Republicans met this week behind closed doors at the Republican National Senate Committee (NRSC) for a debate lunch, where they say Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Who oversees the campaign arm, the reported on the state of 2022 races and how they could try to assemble pieces of the coronavirus bill against Democrats.
His. Mike Braun
Michael Braun: Amazon eliminates books framing LGBTQ issues as mental illness Senate honors Senate film ‘Hoosiers’ for ‘Horrible God’ and ‘Stupid’ Session Before COVID-19 Relief Vote MORE (R-Ind.), Asked about Scott’s message, summed it up by saying, “Clearly a lot of what’s in this package feels good, the voting behind it, but when we specify exactly the details of it , most people will say, “What?”
The NRSC is already publishing digital ads against Sens. Mark KellyMark KellyCollins will support Becerra by HHS Secretary Manchin will vote to confirm Becerra as HHS Secretary Schumer to present Becerra’s candidacy after committee tie MORE (D-Ariz.) I Raphael Warnock
Raphael WarnockBiden and Harris will travel to Atlanta to sell the relief package Trump is urging Herschel Walker to run in the Senate in Georgia. Mike Lee says “the people’s voting bill” is “like it was written to the devil by the devil himself” MORE (D-Ga.), Both participating in the vote next year, on the COVID-19 relief bill.
“The $ 2 trillion stimulus package that President Biden signed into law … is a historic waste of money that not only puts our economy at risk of inflation, but also reflects growing priorities. Liberals in the current Democratic Party, “Scott said in a statement.
The effort of the Republican Senate Party is made earlier President Trump
Donald Trump Pentagon takes heat to extend Guard time to capture Capitol funds to escape points in Trump-GOP cracks Trump rally organizer claims Alex Jones threatened to throw her off stage : report MORE, which received bipartisan criticism for its treatment of the pandemic, also became deserving of the development of the coronavirus vaccine.
The recent coronavirus bill – the first aid measure to be passed on the party line – includes a $ 1,400 stimulus check, extending unemployment payments to early September, aims to curb child poverty and provide more funding for schools and vaccines. promoted by Democrats.
In a preview of future messaging wars, Republicans point to hundreds of billions of dollars for state and local governments that have seen their tax bases dry up during the pandemic, but most GOP senators consider that this funding is a ransom.
They also try to link the bill to larger cultural issues, highlighting Democratic opposition to an amendment by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala) that would have blocked funding for schools that would allow transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports and a proposal of the Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzPoll: 81% of Republican voters are in favor of Trump Bill would block Biden from withdrawing Cuba as state sponsor of terrorism. Biden DOJ candidate apologizes for “harsh rhetoric” amid criticism from Republican Party MORE (R-Texas) on stimulus controls for undocumented immigrants.
The bill already included a language that prohibited undocumented immigrants from qualifying for checks, but Cruz and Sen. Dick Durbin
Dick Durbin: Democrats Urge IRS to Help Unemployment Beneficiaries Use Tax Reduction Manchin Cements Key Voting Status in Senate 50-50 Schumer Proposes to Present Calf’s Nomination After Tie to the MORE committee (D-Ill.) They accused each other of lying in a day-long struggle that began when, just hours from a marathon voting session, the Texas Republican claimed the stimulus bill would allow everyone undocumented immigrants get a check.
A CNN data check later stated that both were wrong, as while most undocumented immigrants do not meet the requirements, a subset that has Social Security numbers will be eligible.
McConnell, during a press conference with reporters, pledged to continue to top Democrats for the bill, saying Republicans “will repeatedly talk about the provisions of the bill that Democrats don’t want to discuss.”
However, Democrats are up to par after their first major legislative victory.
His. Gary Peters
Gary Peters: Senate panels advance Shalanda Young’s candidacy for OMB deputy director, Senate retirement wave puts GOP ranks on defense Strong withdrawal shakes race in Missouri Senate MORE (D-Mich.), Who presides over the Democratic Senate campaign, unveiled the bill as a direct result of Democrats gaining control of the Senate majority.
“As our country rebuilds from this crisis, voters will know that Democrats provided real relief and significant results, while Republicans put political obstruction first and turned their backs on their states. “, he said in a statement after Biden signed the bill.
The campaign group also circulated a list of provisions in the bill that Republicans voted against, popping up local newspaper headlines promoting the bill in key battlefield states of 2022 and posting ads. digital against Rubio and Sen. Ron Johnson
Ronald (Ron) Harold Johnson: Ashcroft refuses to run to replace Blunt in Missouri Senate GOP faces brain drain on retirement Wave of retirements in Senate puts GOP ranks in defense MORE (R-Wis.).
Democrats are also heavily monitoring Republicans trying to take over the bill.
His. Roger Wicker
Roger Frederick WickerWhite House Plans Quick Post to Sell Coronavirus Relief Bill The Restaurant Group Gets Help Funds Thanks to GOP Lawmakers Opposing Bill The Hill’s Morning Report – House approves relief law; Biden set MORE for the prime time address (R-Miss.) Announced funding for restaurants in the bill, though she voted against general legislation, sparking criticism from Democrats. Wicker, when asked about his tweet, told reporters that “a good provision for $ 1.9 trillion doesn’t mean you have to vote the whole thing.”
Wicker and democratic senator. Cinema Kyrsten
Kyrsten Sinema: The restaurant group gets funding thanks to Republican lawmakers who opposed the Collins bill to support Becerra for the HHS secretary. We need a MORE voting rights solution (D-Ariz.) He had previously proposed an amendment to a later budget resolution that paved the way for the coronavirus bill.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi: Pelosi launches infrastructure debate and urges bipartisanship Biden holds bill with Democratic leaders, Republican Party leader to try to force Swalwell to leave panel MORE (D-California), speaking to reporters, predicted that more Republicans will take a similar approach and hinted that Democrats will be prepared to get them there.
“We have a Democratic president. Suddenly, there are many of the same characteristics of these other accounts, of one size or another, in this bill. And Republicans have decided they can’t be there, ”he said.“ That’s unfortunate. As I said, they will take some merit to their districts. But we will have more to say about that. “