Rules Committee Republicans Oppose Democrats’ COVID-19 Relief Bill

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer questions US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar as he testifies before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 2, 2020. J. Scott Applewhite/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

House Republicans voiced their opposition Friday to what they called a partisan progressive wish list of provisions in Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. GOP House members said the unspent CARES Act funds should first be distributed, then a new targeted package should be authorized.

During Friday’s House Rules Committee markup for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) criticized the massive package, saying he is opposed to the current $1.9 trillion price tag and what it will fund.