Want virus aid? Rick Scott says to call Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and make them move
Sen. Rick Scott.

rick_scott_132810311
Senator blames Democratic leadership for failed relief bill.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott says those upset that new relief money for COVID-19 issues hasn’t passed need to call Democratic Congressional leaders and put the pressure on.

The Naples Republican, on the September 11 edition of the Maria Bartiromo show on Fox Business Network, addressed the coronavirus relief bill advanced by the GOP in the Senate yesterday.

Bereft of Democratic support, the bill could not reach the 60 vote threshold, even with 51 of 52 Republicans finally backing the package.

The Senator asserted that the failure was really “about [Speaker of the House] Nancy Pelosi and [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer believing they’re politically better off without the bill.”

“They really believe not having a bill is better for them in November,” Scott said. “If people want a bill, call Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.”

“It’s not about the issues,” Scott added. “It’s about them thinking it’s a good political stunt.”

Scott said “it doesn’t look like” legislation can be passed.

“I feel sorry for the people who lost their jobs. The small businesses struggling,” Scott said. “The Democrats are just sitting here, and these poor people getting hurt are just pawns for the election that’s happening November 3.”

Scott isn’t the first Florida Senator to vent about Democratic leadership blocking a path forward for the “skinny” GOP relief bill.

Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday ahead of the vote that Democratic leadership would rather let people suffer in the short term in the hopes of taking full control of the federal government after the November elections.

“Congress isn’t going to pass more COVID-19 relief before the election,” Rubio tweeted Thursday morning.

“And the biggest reason why is Speaker Pelosi & Senator Schumer believe Trump & the GOP will be blamed for the pain doing nothing will cause & that will help them win the White House & Senate in November.”

However, Democratic leadership believes the GOP proposal didn’t go far enough.

Schumer called it “emaciated,” as it excised money for state and local governments, funding decried by Scott and others on the right as “blue state bailouts.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


3 comments

  • Ocean Joe

    September 11, 2020 at 9:56 am

    The Dems passed a relief bill 3 months ago. Instead of reconciliation, you guys ignored it.
    Part of their relief package aids state and local governments. You reject that.
    So who is actually defunding the police?

    Crocodile tears from the architect of Florida’s failed unemployment compensation fund. You could come up with a compromise in hours if your leadership (McConnell and Trump) wanted it. Stop playing chicken with our future.

    • tjb

      September 11, 2020 at 10:07 am

      Well said. If the package doesn’t aid their rich Republican friends, Rubio and Scott will veto it.

  • Sonja Fitch

    September 11, 2020 at 10:31 am

    Stfu Nazi rick. You ain’t going to be a star!!! Wait unless you are on the Death Star team!

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories