GOP goes on the attack against Biden’s relief bill

Republicans are setting out to attack the newly signed $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus bill as they struggle to find a foothold in messages against the Democrats’ first major victory in 2022.

Republican Party lawmakers, who voted in unison against the legislation, are betting that they will be able to curb the bill’s popularity in the long run, even though polls have shown that it receives wide approval, including from its own voters.

The focus among Republicans in Congress is twofold: highlighting the provisions they hope will hurt Democrats and accusing their political opponents of trying to take credit for an economic recovery that Republicans say was initiated by the Trump administration.

“I am not surprised that the initial reaction of the American public to this, before knowing what is in it, is positive. The thought of many Americans getting a check for $ 1,400, why wouldn’t they like that? ”Senate minority leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPentagon gets criticism for extending Guard time at the Capitol Fundraising fight points for Trump-GOP fissures Leading GOP senators: Capitol Police failing to justify enhanced security (R-Ky.) Said during an interview with “PBS NewsHour.”

“What they don’t know is how much of the bill has nothing to do with the pandemic,” said McConnell. “The economy is just going to have a fabulous year. It has nothing to do with this huge Democratic wish list. ”

Republicans have a lot of work for them.

A Morning Consult and Politico poll found that 75% of registered voters, including 59% of Republicans, support the project.

A Pew Research poll found support among Republicans lowest, at 41 percent, but found a split within the party, with only 30 percent of conservatives saying they support it, compared with 61 percent of moderate or liberal Republicans. who call themselves.

Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioOvernight Defense: Leading Republican Party senators demand answers about the extended deployment of the Guard, Capitol fencing | Guard costs estimated at 1M | House panel to revoke 2002 war warrant On The Money: Biden celebrates relief bill with Democratic leaders | Democrats discuss accelerating Hillicon Valley infrastructure package: Google criticizes Microsoft for ‘blatant corporate opportunism’ | Sanders invites Bezos to testify at an audience on inequality | AFL-CIO beats Rubio because of union endorsement MORE (R-Fla.), Who is running for reelection next year, called the polls a “joke”.

“I mean, public research is as accurate as the people who do it, the methodology they use and everything. … There are a lot of, a trillion dollars in things that are not from COVID. When people discover this, they will be outraged, ”added Rubio.

The Republican Party’s political gamble comes at a time when the party will need to defend 20 seats in the Senate in next year’s midterm elections, including two in states won by President bidenJoe BidenPentagon is criticized for extending Guard time at the Capitol Booker to try to make the expansion of child tax credit permanent Sullivan says tariffs will not occupy the center of negotiations with China MORE: Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Senate Republicans met behind closed doors at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) this week for a caucus lunch, where they say that Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Who oversees the campaign arm, informed them about the state of 2022 races and how they could try to use parts of the coronavirus bill against the Democrats as a weapon.

Sen. Mike BraunMichael BraunAmazon removing books that frame LGBTQ issues as mental illness Senate pays homage to ‘Hoosiers’ movie Senate gets ready for ‘horrible’, ‘stupid’ session before COVID-19 relief vote MORE (R-Ind.), Asked about Scott’s message, summed it up by saying: “Only a lot of what’s in this package, of course, looks good, the research behind it, but when we detail exactly the details of it, most people will say, ‘What?’ “

The NRSC is already running digital ads against Sens. Mark KellyMark KellyCollins will support Becerra in place of HHS Secretary Manchin will vote to confirm Becerra, as HHS Secretary Schumer proposes the appointment of Becerra after the committee draw MORE (D-Ariz.) E Raphael WarnockRaphael WarnockBiden, Harris will travel to Atlanta to sell aid package Trump urges Herschel Walker to run for Senate in Georgia Mike Lee says the ‘For the People’ voting project is ‘as if written in hell by the devil himself’ MORE (D-Ga.), Who are both on the ballot next year, on the COVID-19 relief bill.

“The $ 2 trillion stimulus package that President Biden sanctioned … is a historic waste of money that not only puts our economy at risk of inflation, but also reflects the increasingly liberal priorities of today’s Democratic Party” , Scott said in a statement.

The Republican Party’s effort in the Senate comes as before President TrumpDonald TrumpPentagon gets criticized for extending Guard time at the Capitol Fundraising points to Trump-GOP cracks Trump’s rally organizer says Alex Jones threatened to take her off the stage: report MORE, which received bipartisan criticism for dealing with the pandemic, also received credit for the development of the coronavirus vaccine.

The recent coronavirus bill – the first of the relief measures to pass along party lines – includes a $ 1,400 stimulus check, extends unemployment payments until early September, aims to reduce child poverty and provides more funds for schools and vaccines, all of which are being praised by Democrats.

In a preview of the coming message wars, Republicans are aiming hundreds of billions of dollars at state and local governments that have seen their tax bases dry up during the pandemic, but most Republican Party senators regard such funding as a bailout.

They are also trying to link the bill to larger cultural issues, highlighting the Democratic opposition to an amendment by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) That would have blocked funding for schools that allow transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports and a proposal from Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzPoll: 81 percent of Republican voters have a favorable view of Trump Bill who would prevent Biden from withdrawing from Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism Biden’s DOJ candidate apologizes for ‘harsh rhetoric’ amid Party criticism Republican. (R-Texas) on stimulus checks for undocumented immigrants.

The bill already included language that prevented undocumented immigrants from qualifying for checks, but Cruz and Sen. Dick DurbinDick DurbinDemocrats are asking the IRS to help unemployment beneficiaries use tax cuts Manchin cement the key vote status in the 50-50 Senate. Schumer proposes to present the nomination of Becerra after the draw of the MAIS committee (D-Ill.) They accused each other of lying in a fight of days that began when, hours after a voting marathon, the Texas Republican claimed that the stimulus bill would allow every undocumented immigrant to receive a check.

A CNN fact check later declared that both were wrong because, although the majority of undocumented immigrants do not qualify, a subset that has social security numbers will be eligible.

McConnell, during a press conference with reporters, promised to continue to criticize Democrats about the bill, saying that Republicans “will talk repeatedly about the provisions of the bill that Democrats don’t want to discuss”.

Democrats, however, are on the rise after winning their first major legislative victory.

Sen. Gary PetersGary PetersSenate advances the nomination of Shalanda Young as deputy director of the OMB Senate retirement wave puts the Republican Party on the defense Gross retirement shakes the race for the Missouri Senate MORE (D-Mich.), Who chairs the Democratic campaign wing in the Senate, praised the bill as a direct result of Democrats gaining majority control in the Senate.

“As our country recovers from this crisis, voters will know that Democrats have provided real relief and significant results, while Republicans have put political obstruction first and turned their backs on their states,” he said in a statement later. that Biden sanctioned the project.

The campaign arm also released a list of clauses in the bill that Republicans voted against, spread headlines in local newspapers promoting the bill in major battlefield states in 2022, and ran digital ads against Rubio and Sen . Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonAshcroft refuses candidacy to replace Blunt in the Missouri Senate Republican party faces retirement brain drain from the Senate Retirement wave puts the Republican party on the defensive MORE (R-Wis.).

Democrats are also eyeing Republicans trying to take credit for the bill.

Sen. Roger WickerRoger Frederick WickerWhite House plans public relations blitz to sell coronavirus aid project Group of restaurants receiving aid funds thanks Republican Party lawmakers who opposed The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the National Shooting Sports Foundation – House approves bill relief law; Biden set to prime time address MORE (R-Miss.) He praised the financing of restaurants in the bill, although he voted against general legislation, sparking criticism from Democrats. Wicker, asked about his tweet, told reporters that “a good provision at $ 1.9. billions of notes does not mean that I have to vote in favor of everything ”.

Wicker and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten SinemaKyrsten SinemaRestaurant group receiving bailouts thanks the Republican Party lawmakers who opposed Collins’ bill to support Becerra as secretary of the HHS. We need an alternative solution to the right to vote MORE (D-Ariz.) He had already proposed an amendment to a subsequent budget resolution that paved the way for the coronavirus bill.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi launches debate on infrastructure, calling for bipartisanship Biden celebrates relief bill with Democratic leaders, leader of the Republican Party, to try to get Swalwell out of the panel MORE (D-Calif.), Talking to reporters, predicted that more Republicans will take a similar approach and hinted that Democrats will be ready to question them.

“We have a Democratic president. Suddenly, many of the same characteristics as those other notes, one size or the other, are on this note. And the Republicans have decided that they cannot be in favor, ”she said. “This is unfortunate. As I said, they will receive some credit in their districts. But we will have more to say about it. “