Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been at the forefront of the Democratic effort to derail a highly bipartisan, economic relief bill for Americans suffering during the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic. After praising the CARES Act, negotiated in a good-faith, bipartisan manner, Sen. Schumer elected to prevent the bill from moving forward in the upper chamber.
We voted no on the McConnell-GOP bill because among other problems it includes huge bailouts without protections for people and workers and without accountability, and because it shortchanges our hospitals and healthcare workers who need our help.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 22, 2020
These changes need to be made.
On the Senate floor Monday morning, following Leader McConnell, Sen. Schumer incorrectly called the bill a “GOP bill:”
Schumer now calling Senate bill a "Republican-only bill."
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) March 23, 2020
Schumer Sunday: "to my delight and surprise there has been a great deal of bipartisan cooperation" https://t.co/Ro9qxf1ZlE
Sen. Schumer even blocked Sen. Collins (R-ME), who has been at the center of the bill’s crafting, from speaking about the package on the floor:
Pretty shocking to see Schumer block Collins being able to even speak on the floor -- she's been working with Ben Cardin on the Small Business portion of the relief bill for several days.
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) March 23, 2020
Probably one of the most widely supported portions of the bill. https://t.co/PYj0OrQik4
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Tensions REALLY high on the Senate floor now. Schumer blocking all GOPers from speaking. Won't let them come out of the quroum call. Sen Susan Collins (R-ME):
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 23, 2020
"This is unbelievable."
GOPers then return the favor and block Schumer.
They are REALLY at each other’s throats now.
The American people deserve a bipartisan relief package, not gaslighting and blatant lying from the Senate’s minority leader. Majority Leader McConnell put forth a bipartisan package that represents compromise from both parties. Sen. Schumer chose partisanship over the constituents who put him in office.
Watch Sen. Schumer's full response here:
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