Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats voted against the Republican-led so-called “skinny” pandemic response bill, which is less than a quarter of the size of the proposal put forth by House Democrats:
“Democrats will not support an emaciated proposal that leaves families and small businesses out to dry and lets cities and towns drown in red ink. In the midst of a national crisis in which health and economic indicators across the country are moving in the wrong direction, Senate Republicans have decided to focus all their energy on rushing a justice onto the Supreme Court before the American people can vote them out.
“On the very day that news reports show Mitch McConnell singlehandedly blocking agreement on a COVID bill, he offers this sham vote. It is hard to be more cynical than that.
“A much better deal for Rhode Islanders is currently in the works, with negotiations led by Speaker Pelosi. Rhode Islanders need real relief quickly, and that means federal funding for local governments and schools, direct assistance to families, and boosted unemployment benefits.”
According to news reports, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has warned the White House not to support a pandemic relief bill, suggesting such a deal could disrupt plans for the Senate to approve a conservative Supreme Court justice next week.
