Sen. Mitch McConnell Says More Than A Third Of GOP Senators Won’t Vote For Any Coronavirus Aid Bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said Friday he believes 15-20 Republican senators won’t vote for any coronavirus relief bill.

“I think there are 15-20 of my guys who are not going to vote for anything,” McConnell told WHAS, a Kentucky local radio.

Since the CARES Act’s enhanced unemployment expired on July 31, which provided a $600 per week additional unemployment benefit, the upper house couldn’t reach an agreement with the next coronavirus relief plan. 

McConnell also tweeted following day, blaming Democrats for not negotiating.

“Republicans tried several ways to extend unemployment benefits. Democrats blocked them all,” McConnell tweeted. “They’re refusing any more COVID relief for anyone unless they get a massive tax cut for rich people in blue states. The country can’t afford this cynicism. Americans need help now.”

In July, Senate Republicans proposed the HEALS Act stimulus bill, which cut the unemployment benefit from the CARES Act’s $600 a week to only $200 a week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) called the proposed bill “stingy.”

Republicans have been arguing that big stimulus funds could discourage Americans from going back to work.

Reports have it that Republicans offered a bill that costs roughly $1 trillion, while House Democrats passed a bill that costs $3 trillion. 

Article by Dongyoon Shin