Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Gave Senate a Long Weekend Instead Taking Action to Address Growing Pandemic
Collins Must Put Mainers Ahead of Special Interests in Emergency Legislation
Portland, MAINE – While the House worked around the clock to pass overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation to address the coronavirus crisis early on Saturday morning, Senator Susan Collins has stood silently by as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s delays relief for Mainers. Between the time the House passed its bill and now the number of cases of coronavirus in the U.S. more than tripled from 1,215 to 4,661. This delay is not only needlessly wasting precious time as the virus spreads, it’s also adding to uncertainty in an already anxious time for working families. “Once again, Senator Collins is not listening to Mainers. A decade ago, she went out of her way to block funding that could have prevented a pandemic like the one we face today.
Now, she’s standing with her party as they delay much-needed action to address the growing coronavirus pandemic,” said Willy Ritch, executive director of 16 Counties Coalition. “We need to tell Senator Collins to step up and fight for Mainers, not hide behind McConnell’s inaction. Susan Collins must put working Mainers ahead of special interests in any emergency legislation to address this crisis in the coming days.” In 2009, while the world was reeling from the outbreak of the H1N1 pandemic flu, Susan Collins led the charge to strip funding for future pandemic preparedness when voting for a fiscal stimulus package during the Great Recession. ###
About the 16 Counties Coalition
The 16 Counties Coalition is a year-long grassroots advocacy campaign aimed at amplifying the voices of families and working Mainers and encouraging Senator Susan Collins to vote in favor of the people she was elected to represent and defend. The campaign will mobilize members through small- and large-scale events, through digital action, and paid television, radio, and digital ads.
