Dems Block Aid! Now Holding Small Business’s Hostage
Democrats are holding American’s hostage again and have blocked an urgent small-business relief package.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was attempting to pass a bill at the request of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, hoping to quickly pass a bill to replenish the small-business aid program with an additional $250 billion.
However, Democrats blocked the bill and proposed their own $500 billion bill.
“The Democratic leadership has suggested they may hold Americans’ paychecks hostage unless we pass another sweeping bill that spends a half a trillion dollars doubling down on a number of parts of the CARES Act, including parts that haven’t even started to work yet. The country cannot afford more wrangling or political maneuvering. There is zero chance the sprawling proposal Democrats have gestured toward could pass either chamber by unanimous consent this week. No chance,” McConnell said.
Democrats claim that the bill didn’t provide enough funding for hospitals, states, and local governments however, that was not what the bill was designed for. The Democrats are trying to pass another massive spending bill double what was originally proposed. Their bill includes $100 billion to healthcare facilities, $250 billion to state and local governments, and would increase food stamp benefits.
Mnuchin was looking for an additional $250 billion to relish the Paycheck Protection Program that the President signed into law on March 28th. The programs was founded with $350 billion but the money is running out. McConnell said that 30% of the funding for the program was gone in the first few days. The new bill proposed by Republicans would have beefed up the program to $600 billion.
“We need more funding, and we need it fast,” McConnell said.
So here we are again, the Democrats are holding up an emergency bill to try and sneak through legislation that should be attached to the next large economic package.
Republicans are furious…
Shameful that Senate Dems continue to play politics instead of helping the millions of small businesses hurting badly because of gov policies to #CombatCOVID19. This crisis *should not* be an excuse to advance your partisan wish list. It *should* be a reason to come together. https://t.co/0MsFmLerdj
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) April 9, 2020
Senate Democrats just blocked urgent money for a popular, bipartisan job-saving program which they themselves literally coauthored with us two weeks ago. I complimented both sides and asked to increase the dollar amount without changing anything else. But they blocked it. https://t.co/kihn5p6rLa
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) April 9, 2020
We just found out that 16 million Americans have been laid off in three weeks. A staggering 10% of the labor force is now out of work. This is a crisis. No time for partisan maneuvering or politics as usual. I hope Democrats reverse course & let us increase paycheck support soon.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) April 9, 2020
🚨 Just now—on the same morning it was reported that 6.6 million Americans lost their jobs—Chuck Schumer and the Dems BLOCKED additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program.
Let that sink in. Dems care more about playing petty partisan games than actually helping people.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) April 9, 2020