AFSCME’s Saunders: Congress voted to ‘protect jobs and vital services for seniors and vulnerable Americans’ by avoiding government shutdown

Now McConnell must ‘stop playing Russian roulette with our economy’ and work with Democrats on the debt ceiling

WASHINGTON — Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) issued the following statement on Congress averting the catastrophic consequences of a government shutdown and the need to address the debt ceiling:

“America’s public service workers, who have sacrificed so much over the past year and a half to keep our communities healthy and running, applaud today’s vote to protect jobs and vital services for seniors and vulnerable Americans. Unlike previous congressional leaders, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Leader Chuck Schumer refused to play politics with people’s jobs and lives. Tonight, Americans can breathe a little easier.

“It’s time for Mitch McConnell to, in his own words, stop ‘playing Russian roulette with our economy’ and work on a bipartisan solution to the debt ceiling. McConnell has cynically ignored the massive debt caused by the trillion-dollar Trump tax cuts for the rich, all while opposing aid to those who need it most. It’s time for him to do what’s right for the country and join Democrats in protecting the full faith and credit of the United States, as both parties have done repeatedly in the past.”