Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) claims Democrats are trying to use the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to pass additional spending, which he argues is not necessary or âbestâ for the country.
On Monday, McConnell said, âI think itâs pretty safe to say the bipartisanship of last year has kind of broken down because ⌠our colleagues on the other side of the aisle just canât resist stretching out the pandemic, using it as a rationale for additional spending far beyond what is best for the country.â
Last year, lawmakers passed two major COVID-19 relief packages which received bipartisan support in both chambers. However, after President Joe Biden was inaugurated and proposed another $1.9 trillion relief package, Republicans balked at another round of spending as they claimed it was a âpayoff to progressives.â
Still, Democrats were able to pass Bidenâs relief proposal without any Republican votes. Biden argued the bill was âso desperately needed, urgently neededâ to help bolster the economy.
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Now Biden is asking Congress to pass $4 trillion in spending on overhauling the nationâs infrastructure and social services, which he is casting as âa once-in-a-generation investment in America.â
Bidenâs plans aim to address the nationâs crumbling roads, bridges, and tunnels while making investments to improve the nationâs electric grid and water systems and combat climate change. He also wants to spend billions to provide paid family leave, free universal preschool, and two years of free community college.
To pay for his new proposals, Biden wants to raise taxes on corporations and wealthy Americans.
âThe middle class and working people of this country are already paying enough in taxes,â he told supporters in Georgia last week. âItâs time for the richest one percent of Americans and corporate America to start to do their part.â
However, McConnell told reporters on Monday, âI donât think there will be any Republican support â none, zero â for the $4.1 trillion grab bag which has infrastructure in it but a whole lot of other stuff.â
âWeâre open to doing a roughly $600 billion package which deals with what all of us agree is infrastructure,â he added in reference to a Republican-crafted infrastructure proposal.
