On Monday, Mitch McConnell adjourned the Senate until November 9, killing any hope for a coronavirus stimulus package until after the election.
When asked, a representative for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed Business Insider to a Saturday statement posted by the Senator accusing Republicans pushing forward with Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation process ahead of the election and pushing “critical legislation” to the side.
Barrett was confirmed to the US Supreme Court Monday with a 52-48 vote.
“We’re going to give the Republican majority in the Senate the opportunity to consider critical legislation that has so far languished in Leader McConnell’s legislative graveyard,” Schumer said in his statement. “Many with bipartisan support are sitting waiting for Senate action.”
“We should be doing that, not rushing through this nomination while people are voting, and want their choice listened to, not the Republican Senate choice,” he added.
Barretts confirmation and an additional coronavirus stimulus package have been a significant source of conflict between Democrats and Republicans leading up to the election.
On coronavirus relief, the two parties have been unable to find common ground. With Republicans rejecting proposals they describe as too expensive and Democrats shutting down recommendations they deem too lean.
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Earlier this month, McConnell refused to put a $1.8 trillion to $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that Democrats had been negotiating with the White House up for a vote.
Last week, Democrats blocked a Republican-sponsored “skinny” bill of $500 billion. However, the proposal didn’t include aid to states and $1,200 direct payments to taxpayers, both priorities for the Democrats.
Now that the Senate has been adjourned until next month, it is sure that no additional aid will be coming to Americans struggling during a pandemic. At least, until at least after the election.
