After weeks of backlash, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to walk back his unpopular position that state and local governments crippled by coronavirus should go “the bankruptcy route” — forcing cuts to essential services, including police and fire departments, health care workers, and public education. Meanwhile, states who are on the frontlines of combating coronavirus, including Kentucky, are experiencing massive budget shortfalls as governors from both parties have blasted McConnell’s position.
McConnell’s new excuse for his refusal to provide needed aid to states is a concern for the deficit, which he had no problem exploding to give corporate special interests and ultra-wealthy donors new tax breaks. That same irresponsible corporate tax giveaway opened the door to the GOP lawsuit to tear down the entire health care law that guarantees coverage protections for pre-existing conditions — a lawsuit Republicans are still pushing even in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis.
“Mitch McConnell’s position is clear: he would rather let states go bankrupt than act urgently to provide much-needed relief for communities reeling from budget challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “Voters won’t forget how Senate Republicans left them high and dry when their state and local governments needed help the most.”
Not a single Senate Republican has condemned McConnell’s position and GOP senators have repeatedly “resisted” additional funding for state and local governments. Republican senators also helped McConnell block a Democratic proposal to provide $150 billion more for state and local government and tribal relief in the most recent coronavirus package.
Last month, the DSCC launched a digital ad highlighting how McConnell would rather let cash-strapped states and local governments impacted by the coronavirus go bankrupt instead of working across the aisle to provide desperately needed federal relief.
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