House Republicans criticized Democrats for using the coronavirus threat as a political opportunity to advance their election prospects.
The Trump administration on Monday called for $2.5 billion in response to the coronavirus threat, including $1 billion for vaccine research and funding for medical supplies as well as surgical masks. Trump also tasked Vice President Mike Pence with heading up the nation’s response to the virus.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted Monday that Trump’s budget proposal cuts CDC funding by 16% while “the Coronavirus crisis continues to spread across the globe!”
Schumer, a New York Democrat, called for the president to direct $8.5 billion toward the coronavirus response instead.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also went after Trump at her weekly press conference over CDC funding.
“The Trump budget calls for slashing almost $700 million from the Centers for Disease Control, and this was the budget which came out after we knew about the coronavirus threat,” Pelosi told reporters. “And now, it continues to devalue our health needs by ransacking other public health needs, whether it’s the Ebola fund or others.”
Republicans say Democrats are just taking advantage of a global health crisis that is also deleteriously affecting worldwide financial markets.
“Well, obviously, Pelosi and Schumer and the Democrats want the coronavirus to be an issue because they totally flamed out on the impeachment, but the trouble is, they want wide-open borders. They won’t do anything to really help the problem other than condemn the president who won’t open wide-open borders,” Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican, told the Washington Examiner.
“So, they need to make up their minds. They’re either going to help us stop the influx of the coronavirus or they’re going to be the problem, and the American people are going to see through this absolute facade that they’re creating,” Gohmert said.
Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican, agreed, telling the Washington Examiner, “The interesting contrast here between Republicans and Democrats is that Republicans are focused on containing and eradicating the coronavirus. We’re not focused on politics. The Democrats are the ones talking about trying to make it something that impacts elections.”
Rep. Doug Collins, a Georgia Republican, said he has no concerns that Republican election chances will be affected by the coronavirus concerns.
“I think the president is doing a great job, and I think we’re going to get it under control. We’ll see how it develops out. A virus like this, you always have to watch. I think they put in the proper procedures,” said Collins, a Senate candidate.
President Trump Thursday criticized media outlets for reporting his administration’s response to coronavirus in a bad light, saying his media critics were wrong to say he should not have prevented foreign citizens from China from entering the United States.
In a tweet on Thursday, he stated, “The Do Nothing Democrats were busy wasting time on the Immigration Hoax, & anything else they could do to make the Republican Party look bad, while I was busy calling early BORDER & FLIGHT closings, putting us way ahead in our battle with Coronavirus. Dems called it VERY wrong!”
