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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor calling on Senate Democrats to allow Republican amendments that promote job growth:

“All week, Republicans have been coming to the floor to talk about our proposals to ignite job creation and get the economy back on track.

“We’ve been talking about ideas that can help Middle Class Americans who’ve been struggling just to make it in the Obama Economy.

“But our Democrat colleagues don’t seem to care all that much. They seem too preoccupied with an election that’s still 7 months away.

“Instead of working with us on ideas for job creation, they’ve been talking about pretty much anything else.

“Time and again yesterday, Republicans asked our Democrat colleagues for consideration of our amendments by the Senate. And time and again, those efforts were rebuffed.

“Republicans have a lot of good ideas. All we’re asking is for those ideas to get fair consideration. Let’s get our amendments pending, have a debate, and take a vote.

“But some Senate Democrats seem to see things differently. They don’t even want the elected representatives of the people to have a say – on what Americans say is the most important issue facing our country.

“This is especially galling because our friends across the aisle always seem to find time for poll-tested show-votes aimed at firing up the Left. They may not be overly concerned about passing jobs legislation for the American people, but you can bet they’ll be forcing everyone to endure plenty of political show votes as we get closer to November.

“The so-called ‘agenda’ they rolled out last week basically guarantees it.

“They’ve already admitted that they don’t really intend to pass the things it contains. That’s not the point, they say. The true aim is to help Democrats retain their Senate majority. They’ve basically admitted as much.

“No wonder Americans are so disillusioned with Washington.

“Look: The American people want us to focus on their concerns, not political show votes concocted by a few political strategists over at the Democrats’ campaign committee. And as I indicated, jobs are right up there at the top of that list.

“So we’ll see today whether or not Senate Democrats are actually serious about giving our constituents what they want. It appears our colleagues might allow consideration of one amendment. Just one.
At least the amendment we’d be considering is a good one – and I appreciate the work of Senator Thune and others in pulling it together.

“This amendment would reduce the tax burden on small businesses.

“It would provide relief to the Kentucky coal communities who’ve been under continual assault by the Administration.

“It would approve the Keystone pipeline, which would create thousands of jobs right away.

“It would repeal the medical device tax, which even many Democrats acknowledge is killing jobs.

“And it would eliminate Obamacare’s 30-hour workweek rule, which is cutting paychecks for the Middle Class.

“In other words, this is an amendment that seeks to take the causes of joblessness head on – rather than simply treating the symptoms of a down economy. It’s an amendment that aims to help Americans find jobs with a steady paycheck and the promise of a better future.

“There are other amendments not contained within this package that the Senate should be voting on too.

“For instance, the national Right to Work amendment Senator Paul and I just introduced – transformational legislation that would empower American workers and put our country on the path to greater prosperity.

“But the larger point is this: The Senate needs to be allowed to function again. When members file amendments on behalf of their constituents, those amendments should get due consideration. That’s particularly true when those amendments have bipartisan support and aim to address our still ailing economy and the families struggling in it.

“My hope is that our Democrat colleagues will allow this to happen.

“These are serious times, and we can’t afford to waste months on purely partisan proposals that have no hope of passing. We need to work together to advance serious proposals that expand jobs and opportunity.”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell urged the Senate to vote on the National Right to Work amendment that he offered with Senator Rand Paul allowing American workers to choose whether or not they’d like to join a union. The measure also would protect a worker from getting fired if she’d rather not subsidize a union boss who fails to represent her concerns and priorities. Late this afternoon on the Senate floor, Senator McConnell asked for unanimous consent to offer the amendment to the unemployment bill, but was immediately blocked by Senate Democrats.

Click on the image below to watch:

The following are excerpts from another speech Senator McConnell delivered on the issue this morning:

“Senator Paul and I have again introduced – National Right to Work legislation. It would allow American workers to choose whether or not they’d like to join a union – and it would protect a worker from getting fired if she’d rather not subsidize a union boss who fails to represent her concerns and priorities. It’s just such a common-sense, pro-worker proposal.

“According to one survey, about 80% of unionized workers agreed that employees should be able to decide whether or not joining a union is right for them. One obvious benefit is increased take-home pay for the workers who choose to keep the hundreds of dollars that would otherwise be taken from their paychecks by union bosses. And there’s a huge opportunity component here too. That’s because many unions operate on a seniority system, with pay raises often based off the amount of time a worker has spent at a company, rather than on her performance. Well, I think an American worker deserves the opportunity to earn more money if she works hard – I think she deserves the opportunity to rise through the ranks and put more money in her pocket if she’s determined to do it. That’s real paycheck fairness.

“These are just bedrock American values – core workers’ rights – that should never be denied to our constituents. Especially in a terrible economy like this one.

So I’m asking our Democrat friends to join Senator Paul and me in standing up for workers’ rights and a stronger Middle Class – to join us in passing national Right to Work legislation. Let’s be honest: after more than 5 years of economic misery under their watch, that’s the least Washington Democrats can do for the American people.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement today after the Supreme Court struck down limits on overall campaign contributions to candidates, political parties and political action committees. McConnell had filed an amicus brief, which was argued on his behalf by counsel, in the case, Shaun McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.

“The Supreme Court has once again reminded Congress that Americans have a Constitutional First Amendment right to speak and associate with political candidates and parties of their choice. In Shaun McCutcheon vs. Federal Election Commission, the court did not strike down individual contribution limits to candidates, political action committees or parties. But the court did recognize that it is the right of the individual, and not the prerogative of Congress, to determine how many candidates and parties to support. Let me be clear for all those who would criticize the decision: It does not permit one more dime to be given to an individual candidate or a party -- it just respects the Constitutional rights of individuals to decide how many to support.”

Recent Press Releases

Senate Should Vote on Job-Creation Amendments

April 3, 2014

Senate Democrats Block the McConnell/Paul Right to Work Legislation

April 2, 2014

McConnell Statement on Supreme Court Decision in McCutcheon v. FEC

The Supreme Court ‘did recognize that it is the right of the individual, and not the prerogative of Congress, to determine how many candidates and parties to support.’

April 2, 2014