As President Biden and the Democrats in congress begin their victory lap for the passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, Republicans are now scrambling so they don’t get left out of the back-slapping celebrations. That of course, is more than a little interesting, given that not one single Republican in the House or the Senate voted in favor of the bill, which enjoys bipartisan support among voters.
Those poll numbers showing the public support for the relief package must be why Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, despite a NO vote on the COVID aid bill, tweeted out hours after it passed how the legislation provided $28.6 billion in financial aid to independent restaurants.
As you would expect, the senator was quickly dragged across twitter by many people who were gobsmacked by the hypocrisy of praising a bill you just voted against.
Wicker wanted to make sure people knew that he played a role in the aid to the restaurants industry, through the amendment he and Senator Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona introduced.
“One bright spot from this week’s budget package is the $28.6 billion in targeted support for restaurants that have been hit hard by the pandemic. @SenSinema and my RESTAURANTS Act was the first amendment added to the package.”
And to be fair, the restaurant industry was grateful for the Senator’s help, and said so on twitter.
We thank @SpeakerPelosi and @SenSchumer for their leadership in guiding this legislation, and the bipartisan efforts of @SenatorWicker, @SenatorSinema, @repblumenauer and @RepBrianFitz for refining the RESTAURANTS Act on behalf of all restaurants.” – Sean Kennedy
3/3— Restaurants Act (@RestaurantsAct) March 10, 2021
But Wicker’s political tap dance is emblematic of the difficult position Republicans have found themselves in. How do you condemn a piece of legislation that the majority of Americans think is good?
Even Larry Kudlow, who ran the National Economic Council for the Trump Administration, couldn’t deny the significance of the bill.
But most Republicans so far are sticking to the party line that the bill is bad and a waste of taxpayer money. But as the impact of the relief package begins to be felt across the country, those same legislators may start following Wicker’s strategy and try and pick their spots to claim at least some credit.
And there’s this interesting strategy the GOP is trying out in public; claiming that any economic boon the COVID aid package provides, has absolutely nothing to do with President Biden. No, seriously. Here are two quotes from the two top Republicans, from a Washington Post opinion piece:
“We’re about to have a boom,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday. “It will have absolutely nothing to do with this $1.9 trillion.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) made the same argument, predicting “an American comeback,” but adding: “It won’t be because of this liberal bill.”
Will that get any traction with the general public? We’re skeptical, especially with stimulus checks and direct deposits about to start reaching American families. Perhaps the backlash to their opposition to a piece of legislation being called one of the most significant in decades will help bring Republicans to the negotiating table and help foster the bipartisanship we keep hearing about.