Local GOP reps vote 'no' on pandemic relief bill, Johnson calls it 'Fake COVID relief'

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion pandemic bill early Saturday morning on a near party-line vote.

The bill passed with a vote of 219-212 with only two Democratic representatives crossing party lines.

Some local congressman voted no on the pandemic bill including Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa).

Rep. Johnson made a strong statement against the legislation, calling it "Biden/Pelosi fake COVID relief legislation."

Johnson says the bill has little to do with combatting the coronavirus. He claims that less than 9% of the bill goes directly toward public health concerns.

"Here is just a partial list of what is in the bill: an underground tunnel in Silicon Valley; $350 billion in bailouts for fiscally mismanaged Democratic-run states and cities; a $56 billion federally-mandated minimum wage increase; a $34 billion expansion of Obamacare; $200 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services; $125 million to the National Institute for the Arts; and enhanced paid time off for federal employees – and only federal employees – whose children are not back in school," said Congressman Johnson.

Representative Mike Kelly also voted no on the pandemic relief bill saying "No amount of deficit spending will heal an economy that remains locked down."

Kelly echoed Johnson's statement that only 9% of the bill focuses on COVID testing and vaccine distribution.

The bill now moves on to the Senate.