Congressman Davis says generations to come could be faced with paying for $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill

Posted on March 10, 2021
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis. (Photo courtesy: Rodney Davis)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – According to one Central Illinois lawmaker, President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion ‘American Rescue Plan’ is too expensive and could leave the tab to generations to come.

“Americans are going to get more money in their pocketbook,” U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “But, in the end, the cost of this bill is going to outweigh the benefit that every American family is going to get. It’s going to be passed down for generations.”

Over the weekend, the Senate passed President Biden’s plan that includes $1,400 checks for Americans under a certain threshold. Additionally, the bill consists of $350 billion in aid to local and state governments and an extension of federal unemployment benefits.

According to Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois would receive $275 million for vaccine distribution, $13.2 billion to aid state and local governments, and $5 billion to help reopen schools.

LISTEN: Congressman Rodney Davis spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. 

However, Rep. Davis said problems still lie with Illinois’ unemployment system and Gov. Pritzker.

“There (are) no strings attached to a lot of the money that Gov. Pritzker and his disastrous administration are going to get. There are 42 million reasons why we need to hold the Pritzker administration accountable. That $42 million we gave this governor and his department of employment security to put in an effective unemployment system in place when we passed a bipartisan relief bill last March. They have failed miserably.”

President Biden could sign the stimulus plan by the end of the week.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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