THREAD (1/n): Sometime soon, Leader McConnell will release his plan for economic stimulus moving forward. It’s too late. Even with an extension, many states will not be able to reprogram their computers in time to avoid a lapse in the $600 payments.
(2/n): That $600 payment has kept families in their homes, prevented child hunger, and capped a rise in poverty. Without an extension, 32,003,330 unemployed workers will see upto 60-70% income cuts overnight. And the fault of that is entirely on Mitch McConnell.
(3/n): McConnell needlessly dithered and families across the country will pay the price.
(4/n): On May 15, 2020, the House passed the HEROES Act, its coronavirus aid package, which extended enhanced UI benefits into next year. @SenateDems released a package that would extend the benefits until the economy recovers.
(5/n): What has McConnell done during this time? Negotiated? Developed a counter-proposal so that families avoid a cliff? Nope. He’s furthered his own partisan interests. Take a look.
(6/n): During a global pandemic, he confirmed two circuit court judges who are committed to overturning the Affordable Care Act, Justin Walker, his family friendand Cory Wilson.
(7/n): He pushed the confirmation of Michael Pack to head the US. Agency for Global Media. Pack’s a Bannon toadie, and at the time, was being investigated by the D.C. Attorney General for self-dealing and self-enrichment. USAGM supervises VOA and RadioFree Europe.
(8/n): McConnell has filled his campaign coffers. Since the HEROES Act passed, he’s raised at least $4.5 million for his re-election campaign -- over half of which comes from big donors and PACs. Mitch, that’s a lot of phone call time that could’ve been gone towards negotiation.
(9/n): He’s engaged in blathering and needless partisan attacks on Planned Parenthood, furthered pointless Hunter Biden investigations, and pushed for big corporations to avoid COVID-liability.
(10/n): In short, he’s done a lot of stuff, none of which helps working families of America stay in their homes and put food on the table. When the cliff drops at the end of this week, it’ll be the fault of Mitch McConnell and the GOP. More details:
(11/n): The House passed HEROES on May 15, 2020. congress.gov/bill/116th-con…
(12/n): On May 17, it was reported that McConnell felt no “urgency” to pass another relief bill. politico.com/news/2020/05/1…
(13/n): On May 18, he launched a massive ad campaign against Amy McGrath, foxnews.com/politics/mccon…, and teed up votes for FIVE federal judges thehill.com/blogs/floor-ac….
(14/n): On May 19, he gave a floor speech calling for subpoenas of Loretta Lynch, James Comey, and Andrew McCabe and confirmed Scott Rash to a federal court. republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/remar…
(15/n): On May 20, he vowed to end the enhanced unemployment benefits. The same ones that have staved off evictions, kept people fed, and capped a rise in poverty. That’s right, in May, without any idea of where the economy or health crisis might be. politico.com/news/2020/05/2…
(16/n) In that same conference call he conceded more aid would be necessary in the “coming weeks.” That was more than two months ago. politico.com/news/2020/05/2…
(17/n): Finally, capping off that same busy day of sticking it to American workers-- he confirmed John Heil and Anna Manasco to federal courts. tulsaworld.com/news/senate-co…
(18/n): On May 21, he took time for a Fox News interview, and said that another relief package was “not far off” -- what happened Senator McConnell? thehill.com/homenews/senat…
(19/n): I’m sorry, he did take time to send a letter to AG Barr calling for an investigation into Planned Parenthood for taking PPP loans. More time not spent helping working families. lex18.com/news/state-of-…
(20/n): On May 26, he again said there’d be another bill “in the next month or so.” thehill.com/homenews/senat…, which he reiterated on May 31. Throughout this time, he pushed for liability protection for negligent corporations.
(21/n): On June 1, he confirmed another judge, John D. Badalamenti. Priorities. congress.gov/nomination/116…
(22/n): On June 2, he blocked a resolution condemning Trump for turning violent on peaceful protestors. thehill.com/homenews/senat…
(23/n): On June 3, another judge confirmed, this time Drew B. Tipton. congress.gov/nomination/116…
(24/n): On June 4, another judge, this time to the second-most important court in the land, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. The person? His family friend and former clerk, Justin Walker. The ABA called him unqualified to be a judge just nine months ago.
(25/n): And yes, in the middle of a pandemic, he chose a judge committed to destroying the Affordable Care Act. Judge Walker called C.J. Roberts’ decision saving the ACA “catastrophic.” afj.org/document/justi…
(26/n): A busy day for trash nominations. McConnell confirmed Michael Pack to head the US Agency for Global Media. Pack collaborated with racist nationalist Steve Bannon, and is now in charge of US public diplomacy and journalistic agencies abroad like VOA and Radio Free Europe.
(27/n): He’s doing a ton of damage too: vox.com/2020/6/25/2130….
(28/n): Throughout June, he seemingly did a whole lot of nothing, other than complaining about the police reform movement, advancing a toothless criminal justice proposal that would do almost nothing to address police violence.
(29/n): On June 24, he confirmed Trump’s 200th judge, Cory Wilson. Wilson had previously made incredibly disparaging remarks about Pres. Obama and called Rep. Ocasio-Cortez a “claptrap.” afj.org/wp-content/upl…
(30/n): Most damningly, on a day when COVID cases hit a then-record high, he confirmed Wilson, a person committed to destroying the Affordable Care Act. afj.org/wp-content/upl…
(31/n): During the last weeks before recess, he used his time to give a speech calling out people for taking down statues. courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
(32/n): Also, just over three weeks before UI benefits were set to expire, he gave a floor speech to caution Democrats about ending the filibuster, which wouldn’t even be possible until 2021. How did that help working families facing a cliff? politico.com/news/2020/06/3….
(33/33): On July 2, he sent the Senate to recess, and didn’t return until this week. During that time, he could have passed an extension, and helped families. He chose not to. He dithered. If families lose benefits this week, Senator McConnell is to blame.
