‘Nothing on battling the pandemic. Just cannabis and cats’
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced a backlash from Republican lawmakers after she announced a bill to federally legalize marijuana while ingoring the COVID-19 relief fund to help small businesses.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said multiple bills are being considered by the chamber, including the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act,
Another bill up for review seeks to ban breeding and private ownership of big cats, featured in the popular Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” earlier this year.
Republicans took to Twitter to accuse Pelosi of prioritizing “cannabis and cats” over working to settle on a bipartisan coronavirus relief bill.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted:
“This week, your House Democrat majority is tackling the tough issues by holding a vote on legalizing pot and banning tiger ownership.”
“Nothing for small businesses. Nothing for re-opening schools. Nothing on battling the pandemic. Just cannabis and cats.”
This week, your House Democrat majority is tackling the tough issues by holding a vote on legalizing pot and banning tiger ownership.
Nothing for small businesses.
Nothing for re-opening schools.
Nothing on battling the pandemic.Just cannabis and cats.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) November 30, 2020
Steve Scalise tweeted:
Let me get this straight:
Nancy Pelosi is blocking a bill to deliver unused Paycheck Protection Program funds to workers and small businesses.
But she managed to find time for a vote on pot legislation this week.
RT to tell Dems to quit blocking aid for Americans in need NOW!
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) November 30, 2020
Re. Bruce Westerman tweeted:
Things @SpeakerPelosi brought members back to vote on:
▶️Legalizing marijuana
▶️Tiger King legislationThings we aren’t voting on:
▶️More PPP funding
▶️COVID-19 relief
▶️Military funding
▶️Funding for the entire federal governmentIt’s clear where Democrats’ priorities lie.
— Rep. Bruce Westerman (@RepWesterman) December 1, 2020
Pelosi said she spoke with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about the “bipartisan progress” in finding a solution for the COVID-19 relief funding.
Neon Nettle reported in October the latest bill proposed by House Democrats includes taxpayer-funded relief checks for illegal aliens and new protections from certain deportations.
The bill demands protections from deportations for illegals in certain “essential” jobs.
The bill includes language that allows some illegal immigrants to be placed into “a period of deferred action” and authorized to work if they meet certain conditions.
But the bill remains held up due to Democrats demanding a $2.2 trillion package.
Meanwhile, Republicans do not want to spend more than $500 billion on aid
“Secretary Mnuchin said he would be reviewing the proposal Leader Schumer and I made to Leader McConnell and Leader McCarthy last night and the bipartisan Senate proposal unveiled today,” Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday night.
“Additional COVID relief is long overdue and must be passed in this lame-duck session.”