DSCC spokesperson Stewart Boss issued the following statement on reports that Americans continue to file for unemployment assistance at alarmingly high levels while Senate Republicans left Washington without passing an additional coronavirus relief package:
“Days before the election, with a third wave of coronavirus surging while jobless claims remain alarmingly high, Mitch McConnell and his caucus rushed to fill a Supreme Court vacancy and then left Washington without passing more coronavirus relief. For months now, Republicans have turned their backs on hardworking Americans by trying to slash emergency unemployment insurance, blocking funding for state and local governments, and downplaying the threat of coronavirus to the public as millions have been infected and nearly a quarter million Americans have died. Senate Republicans have clearly given up on containing this pandemic, and voters are going to fire them for their irresponsible handling of this crisis next week.”
Since emergency unemployment aid expired three months ago, Senate Republicans have refused to negotiate on a serious relief effort that could pass Congress and help Americans. Instead, they took a month-long summer vacation, turned their backs on the millions of Americans who desperately need help, pushed stunt bills that were nothing more than political cover for their vulnerable incumbents, and focused on ramming through a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court who will tear down the Affordable Care Act and end protections for pre-existing conditions. Just this week, as the public health and economic crisis worsens, Republicans admitted “we’re not going to control the pandemic.”
Because of Senate Republicans’ utter failures, “tens of millions of Americans are dealing with uncertain futures.” It’s no wonder that “voters are putting the blame on Republicans” and “tended to say that GOP legislators shoulder the blame” for Congress’ failure to deliver additional coronavirus relief.
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