AFSCME calls on Senate Republicans to go back to the drawing board

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in response to Senate Republicans’ most recent stimulus proposal:

“When working people and their families take a few weeks off, they return fresh and recharged, ready to give their very best on the job. But Mitch McConnell and his caucus are engaged in a very public family feud. After a week back from their summer break, all they have to offer is coronavirus relief legislation that spectacularly fails to meet the moment.

“COVID-19 continues to ravage our communities. The economy is cratering. Schools have no idea if they can safely open their doors in the fall. State and local governments are in a state of fiscal collapse. Public service workers are getting pink slips, even though their life-saving work is needed now more than ever. Higher unemployment means millions more people will turn to Medicaid for their health coverage, compounding the stress on state budgets. The Senate proposal offered introduced today does nothing to address these converging crises. It instead focuses on protecting corporations while abandoning working people, and is seemingly content to let state and local governments go bankrupt.

“The bottom line is simple: We need no less than $1 trillion in aid to states, cities, towns and school districts. That's what will allow us to defeat this pandemic and jumpstart an economic recovery. This is a no-brainer. More than eight in 10 people, plus experts and advocates of all political stripes, are behind it.

“Senate Republicans need to go back to the drawing board and deliver a bill that is worthy of our front-line heroes.”