Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ridiculed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for promoting a federal aid package to help restaurants impacted by the coronavirus pandemic–which was part of the relief package Republicans voted against, the Washington Post reports.
McCarthy’s not the only member of the GOP to take liberties with patting themselves on the back for aid none of them voted on. It seems to have been a Republican talking point as representatives Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and Elise Stefanik of New York have all credited themselves with delivering aid to their districts even though they all voted against the American Rescue Plan.
“Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called the American Rescue Plan ‘socialist,’ claimed it would turn the U.S. into Venezuela, and convinced every Member of his caucus to vote against it,” Pelosi’s office said in a statement, referring to the larger legislation. “He even warned the American people ‘help is not on the way.’ Now he’s touting the American Rescue Plan’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund to brag about bringing home the bacon.”
In a since-removed tweet from his campaign account, McCarthy promoted an Small Business Administration aid package designed specifically for small restaurants, urging business owners to apply for the aid as a sign that he helped local businesses.