After taking back the White House at the start of this year, the first item on Democrats' agenda was to pass the American Rescue Plan—a long-awaited pandemic relief package that provided survival funds for small businesses, preserved expanded unemployment benefits, and delivered $1400 stimulus checks to hundreds of millions of Americans.
Despite the widespread popularity of these proposals, Republicans smeared the legislation as a socialist wish list and a Trojan horse for Democrats to secretly permit special projects for their own districts.
Democrats were forced to use a process called—however ironically—reconciliation in order to bypass the filibuster requiring 60 votes for legislation to pass. In early March, all 50 Senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill, with 49 Republicans voting against it, and one Republican Senator—Dan Sullivan of Alaska—not voting.
Not a single Republican in the House or the Senate supported the bill.
But with stimulus checks delivered and businesses steadily reopening, these same Republicans are touting the bill's provisions, and taking the credit. For instance, Republican Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi tweeted about the bill's independent restaurant grants, boasting that "independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief."
In a Thursday speech at Coyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, President Joe Biden reminded people that Republicans were taking credit for a bill they voted against—and he literally brought receipts.
Watch below.
“Some people have no shame.” — President Biden as he holds up a list of Republicans who voted against COVID relief… https://t.co/xeaQKeMhCI— The Recount (@The Recount) 1622140953.0
Biden said:
"Even my Republican friends in Congress, not a single one of them voted for the Rescue Plan. I'm not gonna embarrass anyone, but I have here a list of how, back in their districts, they're bragging about the Rescue Plan. They touted the restaurant revitalization fund. They touted...grants to community healthcare centers. I mean, some people have no shame."
Attendees erupted in laughter after Biden brandished the list of Republicans—a closeup of which can be seen here.
pic.twitter.com/JKHKXCfRdY
— 🇺🇸Jennifer Juniper🌊🌊🎣 (@nailnana) May 27, 2021
Social media users were laughing as well.
Not Joe pulling out receipts 💀 https://t.co/KrIXe7LNal— chris evans (@chris evans) 1622145946.0
Brilliant call out. https://t.co/yW6D6eQpop— Tim Hogan (@Tim Hogan) 1622147232.0
Way to call them out, @POTUS! https://t.co/lN0r0M3bIV— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch.com) 1622141440.0
I love this, Joe kept the receipts! 😂🤣 https://t.co/BARCLuNAZl— Mary Moss (@Mary Moss) 1622144290.0
with the RECEIPTS 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 You love to see it https://t.co/aFM6l2CXWD— Keno (@Keno) 1622147855.0
“I’m not gonna embarrass them.” but then takes out a list 😂 I love our President. https://t.co/PBUFRcZjCP— Sky🦁🌈 (@Sky🦁🌈) 1622147935.0
They agreed about the GOP's shamelessness.
“Some people have no shame”, that will be republicans alright. https://t.co/b27jPHlFNc— Larry Lart (@Larry Lart) 1622141756.0
The Treasonous GQP’s in Congress #HasNoShame🔥📢https://t.co/Xk8vadWdMD— LadddyLeo (@LadddyLeo) 1622147293.0
Nope! No shame! https://t.co/4SwnlZpsS9— Ms Bee Having 🐝 🌻🏴☠️ 🏳️🌈🗽 (@Ms Bee Having 🐝 🌻🏴☠️ 🏳️🌈🗽) 1622144614.0
Among the names on the list were prominent Republican lawmakers like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and recently-elected GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik.