Sen. Ted Cruz unleashed a rebuke on the Dems for blocking the coronavirus spending bill while Americans continue to die from the terrible illness.
The Texas Republican ripped the Democrats on Monday over their vote to block the stimulus bill and for using the pandemic to try to push their unrelated policies through Congress as Nancy Pelosi introduced her own emergency 1,400-page bailout bill.
“The famed quote from Rahm Emanuel, that’s President Obama’s chief of staff: ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste.’ Sadly, we’re seeing the embodiment of that cynical approach right now,” Sen. Cruz said in his speech on the Senate floor.
“Because with all the people out of jobs, the Democrats are using this to push — what are they pushing for? Changing the emissions standards on airplanes,” he added. “What the hell do the emissions standards on airplanes have to do with thousands to people dying and millions of people out of work in the coronavirus epidemic?”
Sen. Ted Cruz, who ended his self-imposed quarantine last week, blasted his Democratic colleagues for using the coronavirus relief package like a “partisan Christmas.”
“And you know, Republicans, we got things we’d like to advance too. Things I believe in deeply. Know what I’d like to do? I’d like to abolish the IRS,” Cruz said, adding but “I’m not standing here with an amendment saying, ‘As part of this emergency relief, let’s abolish the IRS.’”
“The Democrats are pushing wind and solar tax credits. Mr. President, what in the hell does a windmill have to do with this crisis?” Sen. Cruz asked. “Other than there are some Democratic lobbyists getting fat and rich and they’re willing to extort a crisis to advance their political agenda.”
Sen. Cruz referred to a proposal being pushed by the Dems to require “diversity” on corporations’ board of directors as “social engineering.”
“Mr. President, what in the hell does that have to do with this crisis?” Cruz demanded on the Senate floor, going on to note that the “Pelosi wishlist” includes a plan to restructure the debt of the United States Postal Service.
“Mr. President, last I checked – look, our postal workers, they go through wind, rain and snow, but they haven’t been laid off,” Cruz said.
“I call upon both sides. Don’t play games with us. This crisis isn’t going to end tomorrow. This crisis isn’t going to end the next day. It’s going to last a considerable time,” he said. “It’s going to require adults to step up and lead.”
Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins also blasted Democrats for their delays.
“Never have I seen Republicans and Democrats fail to come together when confronted with a crisis,” she said on the Senate floor Monday.
“I cannot believe that the answer to this crisis as we move to address the economic consequences that are so severe for the people of this country that the answer from our friends on the other side of the aisle is “delay, delay, delay.” No sense of urgency. No hurry,” she said in an angry rebuke of her colleagues.
Sen. Cruz began his fiery speech by noting how “every single Democrat” had voted to block even discussing the stimulus bill, and slammed them for not even caring to be in the room to do their jobs.
“Last night when this Senate voted on whether to move forward with emergency relief legislation for the millions of people being devastated by economic disaster we’re seeing as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, every single Democrat in this body voted block consideration of this bill,” he said.
“What does it mean to vote to block consideration? It doesn’t mean they voted against the bill. It means they voted against even starting to take it up,” Cruz said.
“Today, 102 Americans died while the Democrats blocked consideration of this bill,” Sen. Cruz said at one point. “One Texan died while this chamber decided not to show up for work and do their job.”