Murphy Votes Against Pelosi’s Payoff to Progressives

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Democrats passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1319. Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) released the following statement after voting against the bill:

"Until today, each and every COVID-19 relief package has been bipartisan," said Murphy. "And it's not hard to see why, when only 9% of this legislation, NINE PERCENT, actually pertains to the pandemic. But rather than targeting a bill that provides relief for families, vaccination distribution and opening schools, the Biden White House took this opportunity to pass a partisan wish list of progressive projects. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain went as far as saying this is the ‘most progressive domestic piece of legislation in a generation.'

"They aim to use hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out Democratic states and municipalities that have run their budgets into the ground because of decades of poor fiscal policy. Tens of billions have yet been spent on schools from the last CARES Act and now they want to spend $122 billion more that won't even be spent until 2022-2028. The litany of poor priorities goes on and on in this legislation. It is comprised of its legions of wasteful spending when we are already breaking the backs of our children and grandchildren with massive debt.

"Meanwhile, there is still a trillion dollars of COVID-19 relief that has yet to be spent. Republicans were willing to negotiate in good faith and support a more targeted version of COVID-19 relief. But Democrats made no such effort and chose to sneak their radical progressive agenda under the pretense of COVID-19 funding. We continue to pay people to stay at home and not seek work in a time when the nation is opening back up and seeking workers. It is absurd economic policy meant only to appease the emotional outbursts of the far left. We need to stop borrowing on our future and get this country back to work. The American people will not be tricked by this cynical ploy."