William Cummings, U.S.A. TODAY
Published 10: 43 a.m. ET April 23, 2020| Upgraded 12: 44 p.m. ET April 23, 2020
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The White House and congressional leaders reached a $484 billion deal to help small companies, medical facilities and coronavirus testing.
U.S.A. TODAY
Senate Bulk Leader Mitch McConnell drew scathing criticism from a Republican legislator Wednesday for saying he would prefer to see states file for insolvency than receive additional federal funds as they struggle to cover the expenses of combatting the coronavirus outbreak.
Republican Rep. Peter King of New York blasted McConnell’s for his remark in a tweet Wednesday night. He equated the senator from Kentucky’s declaration to the last queen of France’s notorious (and apocryphal) ” let them consume cake” reaction to the predicament of starving peasants.
” McConnell’s dismissive remark that States devastated by Coronavirus must declare bankruptcy instead of get the federal support they require and are worthy of is shameful and indefensible,” King said. “To state that it is ‘free money’ to supply funds for polices, firemens and health care workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate.”
@senatemajldr McConnell’s dismissive remark that States ravaged by Coronavirus must go bankrupt instead of get the federal support they require and deserve is disgraceful and indefensible. To say that it is “totally free money” to supply funds for …
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) April 23, 2020
… polices, firemens and health care workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate.
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) April 23, 2020
King was not the only political leader to put McConnell’s statement in historic terms.
” That is one of the saddest, really dumb comments of all time,” Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo informed public radio station WAMC.
” Let’s have all the states state personal bankruptcy. That’s the method to bring the national economy back,” Cuomo stated sarcastically. “When are they going to stop with the partisanship? Not even on life and death? I suggest, it’s so absurd.”
The infection has struck New York more difficult than any other state, killing more than 15,000 people there and contaminating more than 250,000 Cuomo has actually estimated the crisis could imply the state will lose $10-$15 billion in tax revenue.
Connecticut’s Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont also compared McConnell to Antoinette.
” Marie Antoinette said let them consume cake– Mitch McConnell said perhaps let them declare personal bankruptcy,” Lamont told reporters.
Current law permits regional, but not state governments, to declare personal bankruptcy. Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked McConnell if he would support a change to permit states to declare insolvency after a few of them are ” smashed up” by the pandemic. Hewitt singled out states with Democratic guvs where he said they “have actually just offered cash away for years to individuals who aren’t working.”
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The coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting the global economy and raising fears of an economic crisis. What triggers an economic crisis and what are the signs?
U.S.A. TODAY
” Yeah, I would definitely be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route.
Contributing: Maureen Groppe
The escalating unemployment rate and subsequent decline in tax income has left regional gov’ ts extended to the limitation.
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) April 22, 2020
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