McCarthy: ‘Pelosi’s Payoff Bill’ ‘The Swamp is back’ Feb. 26, 2021

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed by the House early Saturday includes more than $100 million for a public transit expansion in California — over the objections of some Republicans. Those funds are aimed at drilling a new tunnel for phase two of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion that would extend the existing public rail system into Silicon Valley. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Friday he was appalled that Democrats added $40 million to a subway near Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s district overnight in the House Rules Committee after criticism of $100 million already earmarked for the project. McCarthy said the funds weren’t directly linked to COVID-19 and must be removed.

Ahead of the overnight COVID bill vote, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, introduced a motion to send the bill back to the budget committee in order to redirect the money from the BART expansion to mental health programs for students. The House voted down Hinson’s amendment before passing the relief bill by a 219-212 vote.