MCCONNELL’S LATEST OBSTRUCTION: PROTECTING BIG PHARMA, TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH, AND THE CHINESE ECONOMY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2022
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MCCONNELL’S LATEST OBSTRUCTION: PROTECTING BIG PHARMA, TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH, AND THE CHINESE ECONOMY

POLITICO: McConnell gets GOP backup in his move to snarl bipartisan U.S.-China bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell doubled down on political games that are hurting American families. McConnell continues to obstruct legislation to lower costs for everyday Americans, including the price of prescription drugs, going so far as to hold hostage bipartisan legislation to give America the competitive edge over China – all to protect tax cuts and giveaways for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.

“President Biden has been clear since day one: unlike Republicans in Congress, his top priority is fighting for working families, including through his fully-paid-for plan to bring down the cost of energy bills, health care, prescription drugs, and other essentials,” said Building Back Together Executive Director Danielle Melfi. “McConnell and his Republican allies in Congress have also been clear about their priorities: to oppose the president’s plans to cut costs, to protect tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and large corporations, to side with Big Pharma, and more. While McConnell’s remarks are out of step with the priorities of everyday Americans, they aren’t out of character for a leading Senate Republican who has betrayed working families time and time again.”

While McConnell plays political games at the expense of working families, President Biden is using all tools at his disposal to bring down costs:

  • President Biden is fighting for his plan to lower the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs, energy bills, child care and elder care, and more.
  • His plan fast-tracks investment in clean energy to lower the average American family’s energy costs by $500 a year.
  • The president’s plan to lower costs for families is fully paid for by ensuring big corporations and the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share in taxes.

McConnell’s opposition to President Biden’s plan to cut costs – and his threats to block bipartisan legislation to make us more competitive with China – will hurt working families and small businesses across the country:

  • Not only is McConnell against lowering the cost of housing, health care and prescription drugs, energy bills, child care and elder care, but he’s holding American competitiveness hostage.
  • McConnell opposes President Biden’s fully-paid-for plan to cut costs for American families – after having voted for the previous administration’s tax giveaway, which gives 83% of benefits to the top 1% and pads the pockets of big corporations.
  •  Once again, McConnell doubled down on his threat to hold the Bipartisan Innovation Act hostage – prioritizing killing legislation that would lower costs over bringing jobs home from overseas and boosting American competitiveness with China.

Senator McConnell has been transparent about his priorities (fighting for tax breaks for big businesses and the ultra-wealthy) while President Biden is using every tool at his disposal to bring down prices for working families.

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