GOP Rep. Jason Smith: Deferments Show Relief Not Needed Now

The Republican leader of the House Budget Committee is calling out President Joe Biden's $2 trillion relief package as a blue-state bailout on the eve Monday's markup session.

"Democrats are rushing to pass a nearly $2 trillion spending bill that will enact bailouts for state governments that lock down their citizens and radical policies that will destroy jobs and raise the cost of living for working-class Americans," Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., ranking member of the committee, wrote in a statement to Fox News.

"But this is clearly where any sort of urgency on their part ends. This is all just further proof that COVID-19 is more the pretext than the purpose behind what Democrats are proposing. Their approach is the wrong plan, at the wrong time, for all the wrong reasons."

House Democrats are seeking to get the stimulus bill through the budget reconciliation process so that the 50-50 Senate could pass it without needing any Republican votes.

"My hope is that Republicans in Congress listen to their constituents," President Biden said Friday, per Fox News. "According to the polls, there is overwhelming bipartisan support."

Smith noted $670 billion is deferred to 2022 and $140 billion until 2024, making the case that it is needed now for coronavirus pandemic relief flimsy.

Among the deferments, per the report:

• $130 billion for K-12 schools, only 5% ($6 billion) would be spent this year.
• $5 billion for Emergency Housing Vouchers, only 5% ($250 million) would be spent this year.
• $39 billion for childcare, only 19% ($8 billion) would be spent this year.
• $50 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, only 23% ($11 billion) would be spent this year.
• Only 12% ($35 billion) of Education & Labor Committee piece would be spent this year.
• None of the $5 billion for Homeless Assistance would be spent this year.

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