
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. (Official House portrait)
A House Democrat admitted she and her progressive colleagues are blocking relief to small businesses to gain leverage to advance their far-left agenda.
In a virtual news conference Monday with progressive lawmakers and activists, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., insisted illegal immigrants should receive coronavirus relief, The Blaze reported.
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"We don't know what's in the package yet, we only know what's been reported," Jayapal said during the #PutPeopleFirst conference.
"But I think what you're hearing from all of us on the call is that we have real concerns about giving away leverage now without getting some of the priorities we need."
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Video of the remarks were posted on Twitter by the Senate Republican Communications Center.
"Think about that: Democrats would rather use workers as partisan leverage than actually help them," the tweet said.
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Also in attendance were members of the "squad" of far-left freshmen, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
See Jayapal's remarks:
One leading House Democrat came right out and said they've been blocking urgent money for workers' paychecks because they don't want to give up political leverage. Think about that: Democrats would rather use workers as partisan leverage than actually help them. pic.twitter.com/1Lve1xutb2
— Senate Republican Communications Center (@SRCC) April 21, 2020
The proposed "Phase 3.5" of the coronavirus relief package is aimed at small businesses impacted by the shutdowns in response to the pandemic.
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On Tuesday afternoon, the White House and congressional leaders announced an agreement on the core components of the relief bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats have given up on a number of "unrelated demands" during the final stages of negotiations.
But he said the 12 days it took to reach an agreement is a costly delay for many American workers.