Colorado Congressman Votes Against Coronavirus Emergency Funding

Both Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) voted Wednesday against an $8.3 billion emergency aid package that aims to combat the new coronavirus. The measure was passed on a vote of 415-2.

The funds will be used for vaccine research, prevention measures and support for local agencies. $500 million of the funds will authorize Medicare providers to administer telehealth services to elderly patients.

Buck, the Colorado Republican Party Chair, said the plan was too vague.

"Since day 1, Democrats have politicized the coronavirus. The president’s initial $2.5 billion request was a thoughtful proposal to address our coronavirus response needs," he wrote in a tweet.

"In typical fashion, the House passed a spending package of $8.3 billion with vague plans about how the extra money would be spent. Throwing money at a problem without adequate forethought is not the answer."

Biggs also explained his dissenting vote in a tweet.

"In true D.C. fashion, Congress turned the president’s reasonable $2.5 billion #coronavirus funding request into a bloated $8.3 billion package. By passing this larded-up bill, Congress again fails to wisely appropriate taxpayer dollars," Biggs' tweet read.

Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson David Pourshoustari clapped back at Buck and Biggs' claims.

“It speaks volumes about the Colorado Republican Party and their leadership that their chair would give a thumbs down to funding to combat a virus that has already claimed 11 American lives," Pourshoustari said in a statement. "Given that Ken Buck voted for the Republican tax scam that is to blame for our record-level high deficits, it defies logic that Buck would say ‘no’ to funding that could end up saving a lot of lives. Colorado Republicans should be embarrassed by their chair today.”

The Trump administration requested $1.25 billion in February to combat COVID-19. Including funding from other sources, total funding for the president's proposal would have been $2.5 billion.

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Monitor the latest information on COVID-19:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention