Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) is referencing former film producer Harvey Weinstein in his attack against President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package.
“I said the other day that calling this a coronavirus bill is like calling Harvey Weinstein a feminist. It’s just chock-full of spending porn,” Kennedy said during an appearance on Fox News on Thursday.
Watch his remarks below:
Sen. John Kennedy references strippers, Harvey Weinstein, and porn within 20 seconds pic.twitter.com/YvJ85gO2Xi
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 11, 2021
Weinstein was convicted of sex crimes in February of 2020.
The House of Representatives passed Biden’s bill on Wednesday with no Republican support, as IJR reported.
Included in the package is $400 billion for $1,400 direct payments to Americans, aid for state and local governments to the tune of $350 billion, additional vaccine distribution funding, and more.
The president praised House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her role in passing the measure, as IJR reported.
“I want to thank all the members who voted for it, especially Speaker Pelosi, the finest and most capable speaker in the history of our nation,” Biden said in a statement.
He continued, “Once again, she has led into law an historic piece of legislation that addresses a major crisis and lifts up millions of Americans.”
Other Republican lawmakers argued it is a wishlist for Democratic priorities. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) called the bill a “non-COVID-19” package.
“We have been able to pass five Covid relief packages in the past year. And unfortunately, Biden’s promise to be the bipartisan president, a president for all Americans, is going out the window today as he signs this non-COVID-19 package,” Ernst said while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
She added, “We are footing the bill for a Democratic wishlist of items.”
Pelosi blasted Republicans who recognize there are some benefits to Biden’s package but still voted no on it.
“Unfortunately, Republicans, as I say, you know, vote no and take the dough. You see already some of them claiming, ‘Oh, this is a good thing,’ or ‘That’s a good thing,’ but they couldn’t give it a vote,” she said during her press briefing on Thursday.