MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Mitch McConnell vows to ‘fight every step of the way’ over infra bill, Internet says GOP 'only wants to obstruct'

Senate leader Mitch McConnell says America did not give Biden 'mandate to drive our country all the way to the political left'

Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has firmly opposed President Joe Biden's proposed 'American Jobs Plan', even while praising his former colleague. McConnell spoke to reporters from his home state of Kentucky, where he firmly put his foot down against supporting Biden's $2 trillion package.

Reportedly, the President phoned McConnell two days ago as a potential area for bipartisan support, which has so far been absent in Washington. However, any hopes Biden may have had seemed to have been dashed with McConnell's statement. "I don't think the American people gave them a mandate to drive our country all the way to the political left. I'm going to fight them every step of the way," he announced.

RELATED ARTICLES

What is Joe Biden's $2 trillion 'American Jobs Plan'? POTUS set to invest in America and revitalize economy

Mitch McConnell backs Merrick Garland as attorney general 5 years after blocking his Supreme Court nomination

Biden unveiled his massive stimulus bill on March 31, with the aim of helping America's economy recover from the pandemic. Biden also proposes that the bill will help meet the challenges of climate change and China's growing strength. Despite a string of suggestions to invest in America's middle class, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects, Republicans have slammed Biden's proposal. 

Earlier, McConnell called the plan 'a trojan horse for tax hikes'. Biden has been desperate for bipartisan support, but it seems almost impossible in a chamber deeply divided over Trump. No Republican voted for the American Rescue Plan, and even centrist Democrats like Joe Manchin have been stalling critical aspects of Biden's agenda. McConnell too has been very vocally against the President, but in a rare sign of support had some kind words for him. 

McConnell told reporters, "I like him personally, I mean, we've been friends for a long time. He's a first-rate person." He also added, " I would love to find some things that we can agree on." But he also said that "big philosophical differences" would make it hard for Republicans and Democrats to work together. Biden served in the Senate for decades alongside McConnell, and the two were known to get on well despite being on opposite teams. 

As his comments made their way to social media, many people slammed McConnell for failing to support Biden's plan.

'McConnell is the bane of America'

One user tweeted, "Rebublicans only want to obstruct, they don’t even try to comprise or have any other ideas! Look at what McConnell and Republicans have done in 12 yrs pass a tax bill for the rich! No healthcare, no Covid-19 bill for the American people! They are lost and do not care!"

Others had harsher words for McConnell. One person said, "McConnell is the bane of America. America wants an infrastructure plan. It will create JOBS!" Another said, "Greed and power is all McConnell is interested in — that and his big donors of course." Another account claimed, "GOP in power: Spend lots and lots of money. GOP not in power: Complain about people spending money". One user trolled, "If Mitch McConnell is against then you know 100% the plan will benefit America and the working class." Yet another person trolled, " "Leader” McConnell would be more than happy to represent more Americans, instead of just the 1%, if only we could afford him."

"McConnell doesn't want an infrastructure bill because he knows it will be incredibly popular and make Biden look really good" another person claimed.

Biden's $2 trillion American Jobs Plan lays out a series of planned investments in all sectors of the American economy, over eight years. The White House claims that the plan "will invest in America in a way we have not invested since we built the interstate highways and won the Space Race." With Republicans promising to kill it in the Senate, Democrats are reportedly considering using the budget reconciliation process that was used for the American Rescue Plan. Under that process, only 50 Democrats would need to vote for the bill for it to pass. However, it faces a tricky situation since Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has vowed to oppose any bill that doesn't have bipartisan support.