Washington, D.C. — While experts warned of the rising risk of pandemic diseases, one of the most powerful politicians in the country, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, made America less prepared to combat it. McConnell advanced a dangerous agenda that has ensured that an outbreak like Coronavirus would strike a devastating blow to Americans and our economy.
"People are scared and looking to our elected leaders for deliberate, meaningful action in the face of crisis,” said Joshua Karp of Fix Our Senate. “Instead, Mitch McConnell and his Republican allies in the Senate have advanced a dangerous agenda of inaction and sell-outs to wealthy special interests. From undermining Americans health care, to stalling action to lower drug prices, to failing to ensure every American has access to paid sick leave, McConnell and his allies have put Americans at greater risk. Mitch McConnell must stop the obstruction and end his outright assault on the safeguards we should have in place to protect American lives.”
Here’s a look at all the ways McConnell has increased public risk and exposure to any kind of future public health crisis:
- Fought for ACA Repeal: For the past ten years, as scientists have raised the alarm about the potential of global pandemics, Mitch McConnell has been fighting to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take away essential public health resources — including the CDC’s Prevention and Public Health Fund, which allocates nearly $1 billion to plan for and prevent the outbreak of infectious disease. From access to testing, from planning to the development of vaccines, the Majority Leader and his allies have advanced an agenda that undermines our ability to protect Americans.
- Stalled Paid Sick Leave: Roughly a quarter of Americans do not have access to paid sick leave, meaning many people come to work even if they are feeling ill, just to continue to pay their bills and provide for their families. Experts have said that guaranteeing paid sick leave is a critical way to stop the spread of diseases. McConnell has failed to guarantee an economic relief package would include paid sick leave for workers affected by Coronavirus.
- Favored Corporations Over The Middle Class: McConnell’s tax law gave the wealthiest Americans a massive tax break and stuck working Americans with the bill. Meanwhile, middle class Americans already facing rising premiums and steep prescription drug costs, now face the prospect of a virus that could keep them in the hospital or in need of medical attention for weeks at a time — meaning even less money left over at the end of each month.
- Stalled Lower Prescription Drug Prices: Senate Republicans are refusing to take action on the only bill that will meaningfully reduce the prices of prescription drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers.
➡ Demand Mitch McConnell stop obstructing bills that will help the American people, defend our democracy, and demand an end to the gridlock in the U.S. Senate at www.fixoursenate.org.
