Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made it clear Tuesday that he isn’t prepared to start taking up another coronavirus stimulus package despite increasing calls on Capitol Hill for more spending to boost the economy during the national shutdown that has been extended by President Donald Trump until at last April 30.
During an interview on “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” McConnell said he wants to wait and see what develops over the next before moving ahead with any other stimulus legislation, according to The Hill:
“I think we need to wait a few days here, a few weeks, and see how things are working out.
“Let’s see how things are going and respond accordingly. I’m not going to allow this to be an opportunity for the Democrats to achieve unrelated policy items that they would not otherwise be able to pass.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has floated the idea of a $2 trillion infrastructure bill which has also drawn the support of the president, who tweeted out Tuesday morning:
With interest rates for the United States being at ZERO, this is the time to do our decades long awaited Infrastructure Bill. It should be VERY BIG & BOLD, Two Trillion Dollars, and be focused solely on jobs and rebuilding the once great infrastructure of our Country! Phase 4
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2020
For her part, Pelosi told reporters on Monday:
“There are infrastructure needs that our country has that directly relate to how we are proceeding with the coronavirus. And we would like to see in what comes next something that has always been nonpartisan, bipartisan, and that is an infrastructure piece that takes us into the future.”
McConnell, however, said the House and Senate aren’t scheduled to return until April 20 and that his top priority when they do come back will be confirming more federal judges:
“We will go back to judges. My motto for the rest of the year is leave no vacancy behind.”
Featured Image Via NBC News
