Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) made a major move on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday afternoon, introducing legislation to withhold the pay of United States senators until the COVID-19 economic relief package passes the upper chamber:
“If Americans aren’t getting paid, then neither should the Senators failing to support the workers and families who need help making ends meet. Today, I introduced legislation to have Senators’ pay withheld until relief is passed. It is despicable that millions of Americans are without a paycheck in this time of crisis, while the Senate wastes precious time playing political games. The Senate must pass this relief package now in order to get cash straight to the people,” Sen. McSally said in a release.
If Americans aren’t getting paid, then neither should we.
— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) March 24, 2020
I introduced a bill today to withhold Senate pay until we pass the COVID-19 relief package. https://t.co/GnETwOpwx8 pic.twitter.com/IEIleFHZLY
If the Senate can’t come together in a time of great need, no Senator should receive a paycheck—like millions of Americans. If the urgent COVID-19 relief package fails again, I’m introducing a bill immediately to withhold Senators’ pay until Americans are put before politics.
— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) March 23, 2020
Sen. McSally also criticized Sen. Schumer's (D-NY) delay of passing the emergency relief package:
This is not a game, @SenSchumer. People’s lives and livelihoods are on the line. We have to pass the coronavirus relief package TODAY. pic.twitter.com/TpXjbMBpXF
— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) March 24, 2020
Sen. McSally’s proposal is in response to the partisan gridlock occurring on Capitol Hill, much the fault of Democrats. A bipartisan relief package was all but voted through the Senate until Democrats ditched the bipartisan effort at the eleventh hour. Democrats have since written their own version of a “stimulus package,” with Speaker Pelosi at the forefront of the effort, but Democrats’ version of the bill is comprised of various far-left policy proposals disguised as a relief package, as Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) points out:
13. $35,000,000 for the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 24, 2020
14. Mandating federal agencies use banks owned by minorities
15. $300,000,000 for “Migration and Refugee Assistance”
16. $602,000,000 for the Internal Revenue Service (?!)
20. $7,000,000 for Gallaudet University
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 24, 2020
21. $23,000,000 for Howard University
22. $500,000,000 for the Institute of Museum and Library Services
23. $25,000,000 for the House of Representatives
24. $600,000,000 for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities
While American families and businesses suffer, Democrats continue to ask for more and more absurd provisions.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 24, 2020
They need to get their priorities straight.
Watch Sen. McSally's remarks here:
WATCH: I’ll be speaking on the Senate floor shortly to urge swift passage of the COVID-19 relief package for American families and small biz. Livestream here ? https://t.co/a1ciT3YOni
— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) March 24, 2020