26 AND COUNTING: Republicans who “voted no, but took the dough”

5 min readMay 11, 2021

A growing list of congressional Republicans are highlighting and taking credit for the relief provided by the American Rescue Plan after voting against it. At least 26 Republicans have joined the “Vote No, But Take the Dough Caucus” including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and new Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik. This comes after internal polling from the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee showed President Biden and his COVID relief are more popular than President Trump across the board and especially in battleground districts.

National coverage:

Punchbowl News John Bresnahan on MSNBC’s Way Too Early: “You don’t vote against a bill and then take credit for it. It’s not illegal, but it’s a violation of etiquette and it is bad politics. Unseemly.”

MSNBC LIVE: “The reason it’s so politically potent on this bill that’s already passed is Americans have already experienced the benefits of some of the things in this bill. …Republicans are gonna either have to have a reason for why they opposed it or they’re gonna have to continue doing this dance about something they opposed but that is benefitting some of their constituents.”

CNN’s Out Front with Erin Burnett: “Only one thing counts. Did they vote to send that money that they’re now touting to the American people?…

So will the same thing happen with Biden’s latest [infrastructure] plan. Republicans united in blocking it..and then later try to take credit when it’s clear that voters like it.”

CNN’s Cuomo Tonight: “Republicans all over the country are now promoting pieces of the very legislation that they opposed and voted against.”

Rachel Maddow: “The Republican Leader in the House Kevin McCarthy… touted the benefits of the benefits of the COVID relief bill to folks at home in his California district, as if this was something he had anything to do with…”

More Maddow coverage: “This is rich. New York Republican Nicole Malliotakis celebrating millions of dollars for community health centers in her New York district. Celebrating it as one of her own achievements in Congress. Even though she voted against the bill that did that.”

A running list of congressional Republicans promoting programs the American Rescue Plan funded or created. (links embedded)

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS): The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created and funded by the American Rescue Plan.

Rep. Madison Cawthorne (R-NC): Announced a series of grants for Community Health Centers in his district all of which were paid for by the American Rescue Plan.

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY): Touted his leadership in restoring MTA service that was made possible by mass transit funding in the American Rescue Plan.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY): first to do it twice… see above and this:

Rep. Jamie Hererra Beutler (R-WA):

Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH):

Rep. Dianne Harshbarger (R-TN):

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH):

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA):

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY): “released a “100 Days Report Card” in which her office listed the freshman congresswoman’s “achievements,” including $3.7 million in grants to the Community Health Center of Richmond and the Beacon Christian Community Health Center, both awarded under the relief bill.”

Rep. Alex Mooney (R-NY): put out a press release announcing over $40 million worth of community health center grants that were funded by the American Rescue Plan.

Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX):

Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN):

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY):

Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX):

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY):

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI):

Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI): put out a press release highlighting programs for small business including the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which was created by the American Rescue Plan.