Why Make A Small Business Bill Controversial?
Statement
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following statement Thursday regarding Senate consideration of a small business bill:
"It takes a lot of effort to make a partisan issue out of a bill that should have broad bipartisan support. I mean, you have to go out of your way to make a small business bill controversial.
"But they've pulled it off.
"Our friends on the other side have outdone themselves. We first got on this bill in late June, and since then, Democrats have set it aside six separate times to move to something else.
"So from the beginning this bill clearly wasn't a priority to them.
"Until they realized that they didn't have anything to talk about when they go home in August.
"I think one Democrat senator put it best when he suggested this week that a midterm campaign that revolves around his party's agenda and that of the White House is a losing proposition for the majority.
"He was summing up their strategy on this bill.
"They knew they couldn't run on a record of job-killing taxes, burdensome new regulations, massive government intrusions, and record deficits and debt.
"So what do they do -- they make an issue where there is none. That's what this debate is all about.
"It was very clear from the beginning there was a path for this bill to pass with a broad bipartisan majority.
"Instead, we're standing here this morning looking at the third version of a bill and we have yet to engage in any substantive amendment process.
"They've been adding either controversial or completely unrelated matters to this bill -- all to avoid any real debate and to avoid voting on Republican amendments.
"I mean this thing now has over a billion dollars in agriculture spending in it.
"We've been on this bill since June 29th, and Republicans have asked for a grand total of eight. amendments.
"That's two votes per week, Mr. President.
"Not much to ask.
"So it's obvious what's going on -- they wanted to make this an issue so they have something to talk about other than failed economic policies.
"The President made that clear two weeks ago when he accused Republicans of blocking this bill. A statement every fact checker in town has shown to be false.
"So they can try to deflect attention all they want.
"You can manufacture a legislative impasse.
"But the American people know what's going on here.
"Nearly every major piece of legislation this Congress has considered has had painful consequences for small businesses.
"Attempting to create a controversy isn't going to hide that from anyone.
"Hopefully, if cloture is not invoked we can return to the original intent of this bill, strip it of its controversial ad-ons, and pass a small business bill that attracts broad bipartisan support and that helps America's small business owners
"Given the legislative record of this Congress, they could use the help."
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