The US House gave President Biden’s 1.9 trillion dollar COVID relief and economic stimulus plan final passage today on a party-line vote.
The Louisiana Congressional Delegation voted against the plan. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves said the package is full of unnecessary spending.
“Only about eight percent of this bill actually pertains to COVID healthcare, things like vaccines and testing and things along those lines,” said Graves.
The bill covers everything from a significantly increased and revamped child tax credit, 1,400 dollar stimulus checks to over 80 percent of Americans, increased health insurance subsidies, and a number of other items.
The Biden Administration said the stimulus portion is vital to ensuring the nation sees a robust economic recovery from the pandemic. Graves said there’s evidence that we don’t need it.
“The Congressional Budget Office says economic activity is going to recover to pre-pandemic levels by this summer without any further action, without this bill,” said Graves who additionally noted that as much as a trillion dollars from previous COVID relief bills remains unspent and spending in this plan stretches out to 2023.
Republicans have been most vocal about the 350 billion dollars in state aid. Graves said it’s a bailout for mismanaged state budgets.
“It’s going to friends, that’s what this is, it is paying off people who have helped them out in the past,” said Graves.
The package cleared the Senate 50-49. The plan now awaits the President’s signature.
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