While the House prepares to vote again on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, Democrats are slamming their Republican colleagues for spending time talking about children’s books.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y) was asked why he believes no Republican lawmakers voted for the original version of the relief package despite the fact that polls show it is widely popular.
“It’s unclear to me,” Jeffries said, adding, “House Democrats are the party of crushing the coronavirus and providing relief to everyday Americans. House Republicans are the party of fake outrage as it relates to Dr. Seuss. It’s a strange thing.”
Watch the video below:
.@RepJeffries (D-NY) on the COVID relief bill and GOP:
— The Recount (@therecount) March 9, 2021
“House Republicans are the party of fake outrage as it relates to Dr. Seuss.” pic.twitter.com/C1sg6Czyft
Jeffries’ comments come as the House is preparing to take up the version of Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill that was passed by the Senate on Saturday.
Last month, The House passed a version of the package that included a provision to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
However, the minimum wage provision was stripped from the bill in the Senate.
Additionally, the Senate version starts to phase out the $1,400 direct payments to Americans for those who make more than $75,000 a year. It also limited the federal unemployment benefits to $300 per week, down from $400.
The House will vote on the version passed by the Senate this week.
While a recent Monmouth University poll found 62% of Americans and 33% of Republicans say they favor the legislation, no Republicans in the House or Senate voted for either version of the relief package.
Republicans received criticism for spending time discussing the decision to stop publishing six children’s books by Dr. Seuss due to offensive imagery.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) shared a video of himself reading “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss at the same the Senate was working to pass the relief package.
I still like Dr. Seuss, so I decided to read Green Eggs and Ham.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 6, 2021
RT if you still like him too! pic.twitter.com/2pbRbSiJD6
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) responded to McCarthy’s video as he said, “Dems are focused on getting stimulus checks, unemployment benefits [and] small business loans to the American people.”
“[McCarthy] is focused on Green Eggs and Ham, a book that continues to be published and accepted by the free market,” he added.
Jaime Harrison, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, also weighed in, “I read Green Eggs & Ham to my kids at least once a week- a classic.”
He added, “But you voted against a bill that cuts child poverty in half, that would allow parents to keep food on the table [and] lights on in their homes! Put down the damn book [and] actually do something that will help folks!”