comment that states and cities should go “the bankruptcy route,” even as her own state faces a potential $1 billion budget shortfall that puts economic recovery and essential services — like firefighters, law enforcement, and schools — at risk. New polling shows that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans — including 65% of Republicans — think the federal government should provide assistance to cash-strapped states and cities during this public health and economic crisis.
From the Arizona Mirror:
“A spokeswoman for Republican U.S. Sen. Martha McSally did not return emails asking whether she supports aid to the states, and whether she agrees with McConnell and Trump’s comments on the issue. McSally’s office declined to comment last week to The Arizona Republic on McConnell’s statements.”
Yesterday, McConnell doubled down that bankruptcy should be “an option” for struggling states — a stance that’s earned broad and bipartisan backlash and concerns it would cause a “prolonged depression.”
It’s no surprise that McSally won’t stand up to McConnell given how much she’s relied on him and his allies to fund her campaigns. During the 2018 election, one McConnell-aligned super PAC spent nearly $22 million for McSally. After Arizona voters rejected her, McConnell lobbied for her appointment as his handpicked candidate, and his affiliated super PACs again plan to spend over $15 million to boost her struggling campaign.
McSally and Senate Republicans have repeatedly “resisted” crucial state and local aid and already blocked a Democratic proposal to provide $150 billion more for state and local government and tribal relief in the most recent coronavirus package. Unlike Republican Senators, governors of both parties have swiftly condemned McConnell’s bankruptcy plan as states find themselves “scrambling to head off unprecedented fiscal calamity” and waiting on Republicans in Washington to act.
###
Next Post
