May 19, 2020

Kan. congresswoman defends vote against $3T relief package

Posted May 19, 2020 12:00 AM
Congressswoman Sharice Davids during a virtual event hosted by the City of Overland Park this month
Congressswoman Sharice Davids during a virtual event hosted by the City of Overland Park this month

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas says she was among the few Democrats to vote against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill because it faces a such a small chance of making it through the Republican-controlled Senate.

Davids was among just 14 Democrats to vote against the bill on Friday. Her vote came as a surprise because Davids has repeatedly called for aid to states and cities facing revenue losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill would provide $5.2 billion to Kansas over two years and another $5.1 billion over two years to city and county governments in the state.

Davids acknowledged in a statement Friday night that the bill included many provisions she promoted. But she criticized the bill for being too partisan and broad.