Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, voted against a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package that was ultimately approved in the U.S. House of Representatives Friday.
On Friday, Garcia voted against the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package, which was ultimately approved in a mostly party-line 219-212 vote.
“I’m committed to providing Americans the support they need to combat COVID-19 and open our communities,” Garcia wrote in a post ahead of the vote. “But a $1.9 trillion bill that only puts 9% towards COVID when the U.S. already has a $27 trillion debt is foolish.”
Garcia’s vote Friday represents a break from his previous votes when it comes to COVID-19 stimulus, having voted in favor of the $900 billion stimulus package passed back in December.
“While this bill isn’t perfect, it funnels resources where they are most needed without the unnecessary spending found in Pelosi’s $3 (trillion) COVID-19 relief proposals,” Garcia said in a statement at the time. “As a fiscal conservative the size of this bill is staggering. But in the end, it is needed and may still not be enough for some small businesses and individuals who are suffering.”
A week after that, Garcia was among Republicans in the House who voted in favor of increasing the size of COVID-19 stimulus checks in that package from $600 to $2,000, which ultimately failed.
“The reality is these checks are not helping us fight COVID but are helping us survive the government-induced lockdowns,” Garcia said in a statement at the time. “While I am a fiscal conservative, the original $600 was way too little, especially in SoCal, where the cost of living is higher, and in CA-25, where our unemployment rate is over 10%.”
The latest package passed in the House would provide direct payments of $1,400 to people earning less than $75,000, with the amount phasing out for those earning up to $100,000. Couples earning less than $150,000 a year would receive $2,800, and families with children would be eligible for an additional $1,400 per dependent.
Unlike the last two rounds of payments, adult dependents such as college students would be eligible for the payments.
Additionally, the package would provide additional assistance for unemployed and uninsured Americans, as well as a bigger tax break for parents.
The package now moves to the Senate, where an exact timeline for its vote has not been determined as of Saturday morning.
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