The Democrats delayed. And delayed. And delayed. Until, finally, miraculously, we got a deal between the White House and Congress on Tuesday to provide additional funding for the Payment Protection Program. Money that should have been released days ago. Another nearly $500 billion is headed to help employers/employees maintain their livelihoods, while other funds will be allocated to aid hospitals and boost coronavirus testing.
By Monday of this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was pretty fed up.
It’s been four days since the Paycheck Protection Program ran dry. Republicans have been trying to fund this job-saving program for over a week, but Democrats have blocked us. The Senate will meet again tomorrow. I hope my colleagues will finally let this help move forward.
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) April 20, 2020
A frustrated Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) explained why the Democrats' stalling was all for nothing. The supposed "concessions" they achieved he had already suggested weeks ago.
Democrat hostage taking of #PPP DID NOT lead to concessions on setting aside funding for smaller lenders to help businesses that typically have trouble accessing loans
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 21, 2020
SEE BELOW
I called for that over 2 weeks ago
This delay should have never happenedhttps://t.co/OLFhU8ipRn pic.twitter.com/VBphMxAwmU
Asked why she and her fellow Democrats blocked the vote to provide additional funding for small businesses, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) mumbled something about how the measure didn't go far enough. It wasn't convincing. Many of her new spending demands were for items that were not urgently needed. Whereas the money intended for small businesses was completely gone.
Once the measure finally passed, the McConnell didn't exactly let Democrats off the hook.
I am encouraged that Democrats have finally agreed to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program and abandon a number of their unrelated demands. My full statement on Congress’s new bipartisan agreement to provide additional small-business support, more funding for testing, and more: pic.twitter.com/nDnhxbs9KB
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) April 21, 2020
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