Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is not holding back on his criticism of House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) after his comments about the filibuster and the Senate minority leader.
“Congressman John Yarmuth likes to pretend he knows me. He talks to reporters and writes in these pages as if he’s some sort of ‘McConnell-whisperer.’ That’s a full day’s drive from reality,” McConnell wrote in an op-ed published by the Courier-Journal in Louisville.
McConnell linked to an op-ed penned by Yarmuth for the same publication titled, “Let’s ditch the filibuster and disarm Mitch McConnell.”
While arguing Yarmuth does not “seem to know Kentucky,” McConnell wrote his “stated priorities include defending sanctuary cities and statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.”
As McConnell turned his attention to the filibuster, he argued the rule exists “to block bad ideas from becoming law and to encourage bipartisan solutions. This design also stabilizes national policy from swinging with every shift of the political winds.”
“So while Yarmuth calls the filibuster a ‘minority veto,’ it’s really ‘Kentucky’s veto,'” McConnell added.
The filibuster would stop “radical schemes” including the Green New Deal and socialized health care, according to McConnell.
“The 60-vote threshold is the only reason must-pass bills — like appropriations deals, defense authorizations, or farm bills — have any bipartisan buy-in when there isn’t divided government. It’s why, even with Democrats in the majority, I and therefore Kentucky get a big seat at the table,” McConnell wrote.
He added, “As the only congressional leader not from New York or California, I put Kentucky’s priorities front and center. If Yarmuth had his way, Speaker Pelosi would have a free pass to leave Middle America out in the cold.”
McConnell stressed Yarmuth “left no ambiguity in his radical ambitions.”
“It starts with restrictions on gun ownership and packing the Senate with new Democrats. Then comes HR 1, a complete federal takeover of elections that overturns Voter ID and other Kentucky laws,” he went on.
Yarmuth took to Twitter to fire back at McConnell for his op-ed.
Proud to support such “radical ambitions” as ending gun violence, making it easier for Americans to vote, and increasing the likelihood that the Senate will actually pass legislation supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans and Kentuckians. https://t.co/WCK8bbHP6T
— John Yarmuth 🥃 (@JohnYarmuth) March 22, 2021
“Proud to support such ‘radical ambitions’ as ending gun violence, making it easier for Americans to vote, and increasing the likelihood that the Senate will actually pass legislation supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans and Kentuckians,” Yarmuth wrote.
Speaking from the Senate floor last week, McConnell told Democrats getting rid of the filibuster would lead to a “completely scorched earth” Senate.