After voting against coronavirus relief package, Golden calls for more bipartisanship in Congress

Representative Jared Golden (D-Maine) launched a plea for more bipartisanship in Congress hours after voting against President BidenJoe BidenHouse Democrats Pass .9T COVID-19 Relief Bill with Minimum Wage Increase Biden to Hold Virtual Bilateral Meeting with Mexican President Over 300 accused in connection with Capitol Riot MOREThe coronavirus relief package on Saturday morning, becoming one of only two House Democrats to topple his party on the bill.

In an almost 30-minute telephone interview with The Hill, Golden said he did not agree with the Democratic leadership’s efforts to bolster the $ 1.9 trillion package through Congress without the Republican support and that he believed a more bipartisan approach would have produced a better bill.

“I often like to remind myself that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It doesn’t mean it’s in the best interest of the country, ”Golden said of the decision to push the bill without Republican backing in the House.

Democrats also plan to push the bill through Senate budget reconciliation, a process that allows them to avoid the filibuster of 60 votes.

“I guess I would say I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the country. I think we ended up with a worse public policy, rather than a more focused bill that would result from a bipartisan process, ”he added. “And as I look to the future, I think we don’t yet know what the negative consequences of this decision might be. I hope there isn’t.

Golden was one of the early opponents of passing the bill through fiscal reconciliation. Earlier this month, he voted against that route, saying the process would take too long and prevent faster relief.

When asked to explain his opposition to the details of the legislation, Golden pointed out the overall price of the package, which he called excessive.

The package includes measures that would provide a third round of direct stimulus checks (up to $ 1,400 for individuals), as well as a $ 400 increase for weekly UI through Aug. 29, 8.5 billion dollars in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. for vaccination efforts as well as the financing of housing assistance among others.

And while supporters of the bill have said the funding levels are appropriate, Golden argued that earlier coronavirus relief efforts have already funneled money into efforts that have yet to be spent. .

“[I]“This represents billions and billions and billions of dollars of programs that are already funded and have not yet hit the economy,” he said.

Golden claimed he was not a ‘budget hawk’, but expressed concern that spending on the coronavirus relief program would reduce funding for efforts to tackle climate change, improve the system health and more.

“We need to be more and more focused as we move forward here in order to have … the resources we need for other critical reforms that the American people also need to accelerate and accomplish,” did he declare.

Yet beyond fears that the federal government was handing out too much money, Golden sounded the alarm that the lack of Republican support for the new administration’s first major bill could have distracted Republicans from the prospect of a compromise on the road.

“It poisoned the well a little bit, so to speak,” he said.

A spokesperson for the president Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse Democrats Passes .9T COVID-19 Relief Bill with Minimum Wage Increase Budget Committee Chairman Pledges to Increase Minimum Wage: “ Hold me to it ” Revue du Capitole to recommend ” addition of additional fences, 1000 agents: PLUS report (D-Calif.) Did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill regarding Golden’s remarks, but Republicans have previously indicated they are disappointed with the direction Democrats have given the vote.

Minority Whip in the Senate John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneGraham: Trump will be ‘useful’ to all GOP incumbents in Senate Cruz hires Trump campaign press secretary as communications director Senate GOP strives to avoid having a 22’s war with Trump MORE (RS.D.) told Politico earlier this month that the process made Republicans feel “a bit betrayed by the representations they were receiving of Democrats’ intentions,” referring to calls for unity of President Biden during his inauguration.

Golden’s calls for bipartisanship are hardly surprising given the seat he occupies. Maine’s 2nd Congressional District voted Golden in the 2018 “blue wave” but also voted for the former President TrumpDonald Trump Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican President Over 300 accused in connection with riot at Capitol Hill Trump Jr: There are ‘a lot’ of GOP incumbents who should be challenged MORE in 2016 and 2020. Golden was re-elected in November, overtaking President Biden by about 30,000 votes.

It is precisely the results of the 2020 cycle that Golden argues requires bipartisanship.

While Biden won over Trump, Republicans also reversed several Democratic seats in a cycle as the GOP was expected to lose up to 15 members. And with the narrowest House majority in modern history and a 50-50 Senate, Democrats will need the buy-in of Republicans to pass some – if not most – of their legislative priorities.

“It’s more than not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, it’s accepting that the party didn’t get some sort of a clear mandate here,” Golden said. “So I think we also have to accept the fact that we’re going to have to work with the Republican Party and that’s the mandate that was issued by voters in 50 states. And there are only a limited number of times you can do a budget reconciliation. “