LOCAL NEWS: President Biden Calls Out Republicans for Touting Relief They Opposed

Headed into Memorial Day weekend, America is on the move: the COVID-19 pandemic in retreat, over 250 million doses of vaccine administered, cases down in all 50 states, and deaths down significantly. Yesterday, weekly unemployment numbers hit yet another pandemic-era low.

As President Biden reminded the American people yesterday, the remarkable progress is thanks to Democrats’ American Rescue Plan — and no thanks to the Republicans in Congress who all voted against it, no matter how desperately they now want to claim credit.

Here’s a look at what people across the country are reading this morning about Republicans trying to tout the COVID-19 recovery aid they opposed…

In Texas: 

The Dallas Morning News: Biden chides Rep. Beth Van Duyne for touting COVID relief she voted against: ‘Some people have no shame’
President Joe Biden accused Dallas-area freshman Rep. Beth Van Duyne on Thursday of taking credit for part of a COVID relief package that, like every other Republican, she opposed.

“Some people have no shame,” he said.

Biden didn’t mention her by name. But during a visit to Cleveland to tout economic recovery since he took office, he held up a list of 13 GOP lawmakers – in type large enough for sharp-eyed photojournalists to focus on.

Van Duyne, R-Irving, was fourth on the president’s list, two spots below Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and just above Indiana Rep. Greg Pence, brother of the former vice president.

[…]

In North Carolina:

The Charlotte Observer: Biden’s keeping a list of Republicans — and NC’s Cawthorn is on it. Here’s why.
President Joe Biden called out congressional Republicans, including a freshman representative from North Carolina, for voting against his COVID-19 relief package and then touting some of its provisions to their constituents.

During a speech on the economy in Ohio on Thursday, Biden pulled out a list of 13 Republicans. He did not name them in his speech.

But a photographer captured a picture of the list, which included Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a freshman representative from Western North Carolina.

…Bobbie Richardson, the chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, criticized Cawthorn for the messages in late March.

“You can’t have your cake and vote against it, too. That’s exactly what Rep. Cawthorn is doing by shamelessly taking credit for a bill that he tirelessly attacked and voted against,” she said in a statement.

In New York:

New York Daily News: Four N.Y. Republicans land on Biden’s ‘no shame’ list for touting COVID aid they voted against
They give New York a bad name.

Four GOP lawmakers from the Empire State were included on a “no shame” list that President Biden pulled out during a speech Thursday to ridicule Republicans who have touted the benefits of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue plan even though they voted against it.

“I’m not going to embarrass any one of them, but I have here a list of how back in their districts they’re bragging about the rescue plan,” Biden said at an event in Ohio, holding up the list for audience members to see. “I mean, some people have no shame, but I’m happy they know that it benefitted their constituents.”

Biden did not call out any of the 13 Republicans on the list by name, but observant photographers snapped pictures of it, divulging that New York Reps. Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, Andrew Garbarino and Nicole Malliotakis all made the ignominious cut.

[…]

In Mississippi:

WLBT: Sen. Wicker on Biden’s list of Republicans who ‘bragged’ about the American Rescue Plan
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – President Joe Biden is calling out thirteen Republicans who he says “bragged” about his American Rescue Plan even after they voted against it.

At an event Thursday, Biden commented that no Senate or House Republican voted for his $1.9 trillion stimulus package that was passed at the beginning of his presidency.

…Senator Roger Wicker (R, Miss.) was one of the names on the list, with it stating that Wicker “touted the restaurant revitalization fund.”

This in reference to Wicker’s RESTAURANTS Act, which provided $28.6 billion for restaurants that had struggled to keep business during the pandemic. This was included in the American Rescue Plan.

[…]

###