SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Congressman Dusty Johnson says another coronavirus stimulus bill is going to be more contentious than the earlier ones.
“That is really what my friends in the Senator saying,” Johnson told KELO Radio’s “The Greg Belfrage Show” this morning. “At least on the Republican side, but that is not what the Speaker (Nancy Pelosi) believes. I mean, we’re talking about another $2 trillion package that she’s going to unveil this week.”
Johnson is working on getting the states money to help deal with agricultural problems caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
“We’re pursuing a bill right now that would give states flexibility with some dollars to kind of chart their own course on some of these ag responses,” Johnson said. Some states are dealing with major livestock issues like we are. Others are dealing with vegetable issues or with fruity issues.”
Johnson also says he doesn’t oppose Congressional oversight of President Donald Trump.
However, he is skeptical about the motive behind Speaker Pelosi’s latest committee to investigate President Trump’s response to the coronavirus.
“She puts at the head of it, Jim Cliburn, the guy who says, ‘Oh, coronavirus is a great opportunity for us to transform government in the way we want,’” Johnson said. “That makes me feel like this is more about politics.”
Johnson hopes the current Senate committee looking into the coronavirus response listens to people besides health experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“That’s just one dimension of the issue,” Johnson said. “I mean, hopefully, the course of the rest of the next week or two, the Senate will also take some input and some testimony from people who have other dimensions of expertise.”
Johnson appeared telephonically on the program.
