Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is insisting that the Upper Chamber will not be going “anywhere” until actions are taken regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
“The Senate is not going anywhere until we act,” McConnell tweeted on Wednesday evening.
He continued in insisting Senate Republicans are “here and ready to work” with Democrats and the Trump administration on this, adding, “Let’s get this done for the country.”
The Republican leader’s remarks on Twitter follow after he introduced legislation on Thursday to stem economic pains from the coronavirus crisis. The package proposed by McConnell would include, in part, cash payments for Americans and relief for small businesses — the proposal totaling at least $1 trillion.
This would be the third package from Congress, as President Donald Trump signed an over $100 billion economic stimulus package on Wednesday.
The Senate is not going anywhere until we act. Senate Republicans are here and ready to work with our Democratic colleagues and the Administration to get results as soon as possible.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) March 19, 2020
Let’s get this done for the country. https://t.co/E8ZSyDrISN
During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Thursday, McConnell defended not seeking input from his Democratic colleagues on the third package, saying, “It’s speeding it up.”
“The Republicans are in the majority in the Senate. We wanted to put forward our proposal. We feel like we have an obligation to do that as a majority and the Democrats, of course, need to be given an opportunity to react to it and that all begins tomorrow. So don’t create controversy where there isn’t controversy.”
“This is the quickest way to get it done,” McConnell added. “Trust me, this is the quickest way to get it done, exactly the way we’re doing it.” Now
Check out McConnell’s interview below:
Both Republicans and Democratic lawmakers are set to meet on Friday to work toward an agreement.
“We look forward to working with them to come up with a bipartisan product,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on working with his Republican colleagues.
Additionally, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wrote in a joint statement on Thursday in response to McConnell’s proposal, “We are beginning to review Senator McConnell’s proposal and on first reading, it is not at all pro-worker and instead puts corporations way ahead of workers.”
