A New York Times editorial slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Saturday after the Republican decided that it was time to take a vacation while millions of Americans are growingly concerned about where their next meal will come from.
“After three weeks in session, the United States Senate emptied out again on Friday, as lawmakers fled Washington for the Memorial Day recess. They left without even pretending to tackle the next round of coronavirus relief,” the newspaper noted. “This is how the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, wants it.”
The newspaper then noted that Democrats in the House passed a $3 trillion relief package last week and yet, Republicans in the Senate have yet to touch it.
“The Democratic-led House passed a $3 trillion relief package on May 15. That bill was imperfect but it was something. Mr. McConnell, on the other hand, has repeatedly said he’s in no hurry for the Senate to offer its own proposal. He has put talks on an indefinite pause, saying he wants to see how the economy responds to previous relief measures,” the paper reported. “The Senate may get around to putting together a plan when it reconvenes next month. Or perhaps it will in July.”
“This course of inaction is unsustainable,” The Times warned, noting that new jobless claims of almost 39 million Americans with unemployment approaching 20 percent.
“Behind these numbers are real people suffering significant hardship,” the paper reminded. “With unemployment predicted to stay high through 2021, lawmakers need to do more to help those Americans whose jobs have vanished, many never to return.”
The editorial board concluded, “it’s time for Mr. McConnell to stop his foot-dragging and get serious about making America work again.”
Come November, I hope the American voters remember which party had their backs during this pandemic and which one decided to throw them to the wolves.
