Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell drew scorn from both sides after he said states should go bankrupt rather than receive federal coronavirus aid.
"I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route," McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "It saves some cities. And there's no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don't have to do that. That's not something I'm going to be in favor of."
Republicans slam Mitch:
“McConnell’s dismissive remark that States devastated by Coronavirus should go bankrupt rather than get the federal assistance they need and deserve is shameful and indefensible,” said New York Republican Rep. Peter King. To say that it is ‘free money’ to provide funds for cops, firefighters and healthcare workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate.”
“The skyrocketing unemployment rate and subsequent decline in tax revenue has left local gov’ts stretched to the limit,” said Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman. “As I told Ohio's county commissioners on our call this morning, I'm working w/ my colleagues to secure additional and more flexible funding.”
Democrats too:
“This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “Not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short-sighted. They want to fund small businesses, fund the airlines, I understand that, but state and local governments fund police and fire and teachers and schools. How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis?”
“Look at the language of Mitch McConnell: ‘I’m not bailing out blue states, they should go bankrupt.’ Really? Really? How insecure is he in his own race in Kentucky to have to resort to that pathetic language?” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “McConnell will do whatever the president wants and the president needs this.”
