VIDEO: Ted Cruz UNLOADS on Democrats for using coronavirus bill to push far-left agenda

'What in the hell does that have to do with this crisis?!'

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) excoriated Democrats from the Senate floor Monday for using the coronavirus relief bill to push their far-left agenda.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) introduced House Democrats' coronavirus relief bill on Monday after she torpedoed the bipartisan agreement reached by the Senate. Pelosi's bill includes billions of dollars for items completely unrelated to COVID-19 relief, including:

• A bailout for the U.S. Postal Service
• Student loan debt forgiveness
• Required same-day voter registration
• Airline emissions standards regulations
• Study on climate change migration
• Collective bargaining provisions
• Increased federal minimum wage for companies that accept government loans
• Publication of race and pay statistics for corporate boards
• Dozens of other provisions allocating money to universities,  the JFK Performing Arts Center,  IRS, NOAA, museums, migration assistance
• There's even a requirement that the federal government use more minority banks and credit unions

The bill would cost taxpayers more than $2.5 trillion and would require certain Americans — individuals who make more than $75,000 and couples who make more than $150,000 in 2020 — to pay back the stimulus check, essentially forcing a significant portion of Americans to receive a government loan.
In response, Cruz unloaded on Pelosi and the Democratic caucus for the pork-filled bill.

A number of people have cited the famed quote of Rahm Emanuel: "Never let a good crisis go to waste." Sadly, we are seeing the embodiment of that cynical approach right now because all of the people out of jobs, the Democrats are using to push — what are they pushing for? Changing the emissions standards on airplanes.

Mr. president, what the hell do the emissions standards on airplanes have to do with thousands of people dying and millions of people out of work during the coronavirus epidemic? Don't treat this bill like a partisan Christmas.

Republicans have things we would like to advance, too, things I believe in deeply. You want to talk about what I would like to do? I would like to abolish the IRS. I campaigned all over the country for that. I will continue fighting for that, but I am not standing here with an amendment, saying: As part of this emergency relief, let's abolish the IRS. There is a place for that political and policy discussion.

The Democrats are pushing wind and solar tax credits. Mr. president, what in the hell does a windmill have to do with this crisis, other than some Democratic lobbyists getting fat and rich, and they are willing to extort a crisis to try to advance their political agenda?

In the end, Cruz said responding to the COVID-19 crisis will "require adults to step up and lead" and urged both Democrats and Republicans to not engage in political gamesmanship.