WASHINGTON,, DC - WASHINGTON, DC - The $3 trillion HEROES act cleared the U.S. House Friday night without the support of two first term Iowa Democrats.
Cindy Axne and Abbey Finkenauer did not support the stimulus measure billed as a COVID-19 relief package to help families, workers, small businesses and local governments.
Democratic Representative Dave Loebsack was the only Iowa House member to vote for the bill, which passed by a 208-199 margin.
Republican Iowa Representative Steve King voted against the measure, calling it "a $3 trillion wish list of liberal policy priorities put together behind closed doors by Speaker Nancy Pelosi." King also referred to it as “Pelosi’s $3 Trillion Socialist Wish List.”
Axne and Finkenauer were among 13 Democrats who were against the bill.
In a statement, Axne said the bill "could allow lobbying groups to claim taxpayer dollars." She also said that it "includes changes to the tax code that would provide benefits largely to high-income earners."
Finkenauer was more vague in her opposition, saying in a statement that the bill "needs bipartisan buy-in, and should not be tied up with unrelated provisions."
A separate bill to allow Proxy Voting passed 217-189 in a nearly party line vote. The measure would give a member present at the Capitol the ability to cast a vote on behalf of up to 10 absent colleagues.
All three Iowa Democrats voted in favor of the bill while Republican King voted against it.