Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell staked out risky ground on Wednesday in an interview with right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt with a callous dismissal of calls for Congress to support state and local governments amid the coronavirus pandemic and recession.
While many observers have argued the states will need federal support as their revenues collapse and their expenses spike, McConnell said he’s more interested in letting the governments go bankrupt.
“I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route,” the Republican Majority Leader said. “It’s saved some cities, and there’s no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of.” Continue reading.