Sen. Marshall: COVID Package Full of so Much Pork It’s Dripping Grease

(Washington, D.C., March 2, 2021) – Today, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. spoke on the Senate floor about the $1.9 trillion “COVID relief” legislation currently making its way through Congress of which only nine percent is focused on helping Americans weather the pandemic. Meanwhile, the other 91 percent is allocated to Democrat pet projects.

In part, Senator Marshall said, “I’m without question here to fight for those who truly need the help now, but I’m also called to protect the future of this country… Call this bill what you want: a boondoggle, a Christmas tree, packed with ear marks, and full of so much pork it’s dripping grease. My friends across the aisle focused 91% of their attention in this bill to pay for things like a bridge from New York to Canada, an underground rail project in Silicon Valley, money for Planned Parenthood, and stimulus checks for illegal immigrants and violent criminals… This is what will defeat this virus: getting shots in arms, getting people back to work, and getting kids back to school.”

You may click HERE or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s speech.

Background:

On a bipartisan basis, Congress has already allocated over $4 trillion in COVID relief – $1 trillion of that has yet to even get out the door.

Democrats have set aside 91 percent of this $1.9 trillion legislation for pet projects like:

• A bridge from New York to Canada,
• Nancy Pelosi’s underground rail project in Silicon Valley,
• Planned Parenthood and in turn abortion,
• Checks for illegal immigrants and violent criminals,
• A minimum wage hike that would cost 1.4 million jobs nationwide and 34,000 jobs in Kansas,
• And a bailout for blue states who have no revenue shortfall.

According to nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, much of the money would not be spent for several years. The bill includes $128.6 billion for schools but only spends 5% of it by the end of this fiscal year – just $6.4 billion. It would take another seven years for the rest of the money to be spent.

A recent analysis from Moody’s Analytics concluded that, after accounting for federal aid already provided, 31 states will have no revenue shortfall at all, and net shortfalls across the country will total just $56 billion. The authors noted, “Any additional aid to states and local governments should be smaller and more targeted than what has been proposed to date.”

The economy is improving:

• Kansas Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
• National Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
• Housing sales are at a 14-year high, private business investment is up 25%, the IHS manufacturing index hit a six-year high, and agricultural prices are at an eight-year high.
• The Fed projects 4.2% growth in 2021, and the International Monetary Fund raised its U.S. growth estimate to 5.1%.
• CBO has stated the U.S. economy will return to its pre-pandemic size by the middle of this year, even if Congress does not approve any more federal money to aid the recovery.

###