AFSCME’s Saunders: ‘Time to inject some disinfectant into the highest levels of government’ as Americans fall victim to ‘Trump’s and Mitch McConnell’s corrupt incompetence’

“Donald Trump has ignored the pandemic and economic crisis from the beginning while Mitch McConnell has said we should ‘pause’ any further response. Now, Americans are losing unemployment benefits, facing eviction and foreclosure, confronting gutted community services like hospital staffing and sanitation, and suffering more small business failures. They are the latest victims of Trump’s and McConnell’s corrupt incompetence. This November, it’s time to inject some disinfectant into the highest levels of the federal government.” – Lee Saunders

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in response to the collapse of negotiations over the next coronavirus relief bill:

“Donald Trump has ignored the pandemic and economic crisis from the beginning while Mitch McConnell has said we should ‘pause’ any further response. Now, Americans are losing unemployment benefits, facing eviction and foreclosure, confronting gutted community services like hospital staffing and sanitation, and suffering more small business failures. These Americans are the latest victims of Trump’s and McConnell’s corrupt incompetence – and Trump’s illegal executive order stunt that will do next to nothing to fix any of it.

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with support from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, led the House of Representatives as it passed a bill nearly three months ago that addresses the gravity of the crisis. The Heroes Act would maintain the essential public services and public service jobs needed to beat the virus and safely reopen the economy. Instead of working across the aisle – instead of listening to voters, to Republican and Democratic local elected leaders, to economists and business interests all calling for robust, immediate relief – McConnell decided to ‘hit pause.’

“This November, it’s time for voters to inject some disinfectant into our federal government. The choice could not be more clear: Continued corruption, incompetence and complete disregard for working people or building back better with Joe Biden and candidates for Senate who know how to run a country with expertise and empathy for struggling Americans.”