Politics

Rep. McCarthy slams Democrat spending plan as more than cost to win WWII

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House leader, warned that the Democrats’ $4.7 trillion infrastructure and spending plans are an effort to redistribute wealth and represent more money than the US spent to win World War II. 

McCarthy (R-Calif.) told John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM radio show that Democrats are “adding onto our debt as we’re going along,” adding that the legislation would “create greater inflation.”

“It’s redistribution of wealth, it will take money out of the economy, make America less competitive, especially for our competition around the world,” McCarthy said. “It’s a real concern.” 

The bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan passed the Senate earlier this month and the chamber is expected to take up President Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan this week.

The sweeping legislation includes funds for education, child care, housing and efforts to combat climate change as part of the president’s “Build Back Better” plan.

Bridges.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy claims the spending and infrastructure plans “will take money out of the economy, make America less competitive.” Jeff Dean/AFP via Getty Images

But it could get even more expensive after Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri called on congressional leaders to expand the coronavirus pandemic unemployment benefits that expired on Sept. 5.

McCarthy said including that extra spending in the legislation could push it past $5 trillion – “that’s the amount of money we spent to win World War II.” 

According to Wall Street 24/7, analyzing figures compiled by the Congressional Research Service, World War II cost $4.7 trillion in 2019 dollars.

Kevin McCarthy.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy said including that extra spending from expanding pandemic unemployment benefits could push the legislation cost past $5 trillion. Alex Wong/Getty Images

“Every time we warned ahead of time of these Democratic policies, you know, President Biden said he’s going to bring America back, but I didn’t realize he wanted to take us back to the 70s,” McCarthy said. 

“Americans are held hostage in the Middle East, where we have inflation, gas prices are high and they’re begging OPEC to produce more while not allowing America to become energy independent,” he continued.