Biden Slams Republicans Who Tout COVID Bill They Voted Against: 'Have No Shame'

KEY POINTS

Biden's American Rescue Plan was passed without votes from House Republicans
Some Republicans have touted portions of the bill to their constituents
Democrats passed the bill using the budget reconciliation process

President Joe Biden on Thursday slammed Republicans who promoted his COVID-19 rescue bill to their constituents even after voting against its passing.

When Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed through a budget reconciliation process in March, no Republicans voted in favor of the bill. But during his speech at Cuyahoga Community College, the president said that some have since touted programs of the package to their constituents.

"My Republican friends in Congress — not a single one of them voted for the rescue plan. I'm not going to embarrass any one of them, but I have here a list about how back in their districts, they're bragging about the rescue plan," Biden said.

"I mean, some people have no shame.”

Biden held up a list containing the names of the Republicans, but he did not read it aloud. He also noted that several GOP members have taken credit for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The program was established to help struggling restaurants stay open amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also granted funding for community health care centers.

"I'm happy they know that it's benefited their constituents -- that's OK with me. But if you're going to try and take credit for what you've done, don't get in the way of what we still need to do," Biden continued.

Biden’s list included Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who previously pushed back on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

"Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief," he said in a tweet. "This funding will ensure small businesses can survive the pandemic by helping to adapt their operations and keep their employees on the payroll."

Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief.

This funding will ensure small businesses can survive the pandemic by helping to adapt their operations and keep their employees on the payroll.https://t.co/Ob4pRb9Xh4
— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) March 10, 2021

Other Republicans included in the list were:

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-CA
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY
Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-TX
Rep. Greg Pence, R-IN
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-WA
Rep. Troy Balderson, R-OH
Rep Anthony Gonzalez, R-OH
Rep. Madison Cawthron, R-NC
Rep. Alex Mooney, R-WV
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-NY
Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-NY
Rep. Andrew Garbino, R-NY

Democrats were able to pass the American Rescue Plan using the budget reconciliation process, which allowed them to bypass the 60-vote threshold needed to move legislation forward.