According to a new report from the New York Times, Republican governors who adamantly opposed President Biden and congressional Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, are now trying to take credit for the critical investments it makes in their states.
Whether it’s Ron DeSantis in Florida, Kristi Noem in South Dakota, Mike DeWine in Ohio, or Doug Ducey in Arizona, Republicans from coast to coast have bashed this once-in-a-generation investment in families and communities despite having no agenda of their own.
The New York Times: Republicans Who Assailed Biden’s Stimulus Bill Are Embracing the Money
By: Alan Rappeport | December 15, 2021
Key Points:
- “At her annual budget address this month, Gov. Kristi Noem, Republican of South Dakota, blamed President Biden’s economic policies for rising prices, derided the “giant handout” of federal stimulus funds and suggested that she had considered refusing the money over ideological objections. But like many Republican officials, Ms. Noem has found it hard to say no to her state’s share of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief aid that Democrats passed along party lines in March.”
- “Republican leaders across the country have been engaged in a similarly awkward dance over the past few months as they accept — and often champion — money from the $350 billion bucket of state and local aid included in the stimulus bill, which passed Congress without a single Republican vote.”
- “In some states, like Ohio and Arizona, Republican governors are spending the funds while attempting to undercut the law that allowed the money to flow. Other governors are faulting Congress for not giving their state enough money.”
- “And, like their counterparts in Congress, many Republicans have blasted Mr. Biden’s stimulus bill for fueling inflation, even as they take the funds, and criticized Democrats for pushing for additional government spending plans.”
- “Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican of Florida, complained last week that the federal formula for allocating money to states based on their jobless rate had essentially penalized Florida for not imposing lockdowns and allowing businesses to remain open during the pandemic.”
- “Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, opposed the entire package and, after it passed, his state took a leading role in litigation contending it was unlawful to put conditions on the relief money that prohibited states from using it to finance tax cuts.”
- “The lawsuit is still making its way through the courts, but by June, Mr. DeWine signed legislation to use more than $2 billion of the federal funds to replenish the state’s jobless benefits fund, to improve water and sewer quality and to improve pediatric behavioral health facilities.”
Read the full report here.
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Published: Dec 15, 2021 | Last Modified: Dec 22, 2021