Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered a glimpse into the level of division between Republican lawmakers as he revealed over a third of Republican senators are not likely to vote on any coronavirus package.
During a radio interview with Kentucky radio station WHAS on Friday, McConnell discussed the HEALS Act and the interparty division they are facing in trying to pass another coronavirus relief package.
When asked about the senators refusing to vote for anything, McConnell explained their concerns as he admitted his Republican colleagues’ concerns have merit.
“I think there are 15-20 of my guys that are not going to vote for anything. And I think their argument’s not irrational,” McConnell said. “It’s that we’ve got a mass of debt now and they don’t think we ought to pass another one of these bills. I don’t agree with that. It’s a statement of the obvious that we will not have everybody on our side.”
The top-ranking Republican lawmaker also noted another concern Republican lawmakers have regarding state and local spending.
“One other issue that I think is noteworthy is you’ve heard a lot of talk about additional assistance for state and local government,” McConnell said, adding, “And we’ve very skeptical about that because according to the Treasury Department, as of June 30 of this year… the state administration and the city approval administration have not sent 94% of the money has been sent down.”
See McConnell’s remarks below:
Listen to “Mitch McConnell on all aspects of the HEALS Act” on Spreaker.Noting funds in states, McConnell insists Republican lawmakers are not convinced passing another bill would be based on a “real demonstrative need.”
“We want to see some real demonstrative need before doing another slug of money for state and local government,” McConnell said. “We sent ’em $150 billion in the CARES Act a few months ago and they’ve not used 94% of that in our state.”
According to McConnell, there is very little “movement” regarding the negotiations for the next coronavirus stimulus package.
McConnell said, “I can tell you at the moment there’s not much movement.”
Congressional Democrats are set to meet with two of President Donald Trump’s top aides on Saturday in an effort to negotiate a deal to pass a bill that would put more money into the United States economy.