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McConnell Statement on the Visit of Pope Francis on September 24

‘I join Speaker Boehner in welcoming this inspirational leader, with his simple message of compassion and openness to others, to the Capitol.’

February 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement regarding Pope Francis’ visit to the Capitol:

“The American people look forward to hearing Pope Francis’ call to love our neighbors and to find new and creative ways to meet the pressing needs of those who exist on the fringes of society. From the slums of Buenos Aires to St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis is moving the hearts of millions and inspiring a new generation with an engaging and compelling style. I join Speaker Boehner in welcoming this inspirational leader, with his simple message of compassion and openness to others, to the Capitol.”

Senate Will Try Again to Break Democrat Filibuster of Homeland Security Funding Bill

‘Now is the time for Democrats of good conscience to vote with us to break their party’s filibuster of Homeland Security funding and help us protect American democracy.’

February 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor urging Senate Democrats to end their filibuster of the DHS funding bill:

“Yesterday, Democrats voted once again to protect politicians by blocking Homeland Security funding.
 
“I don’t understand why they’d want to block the Senate from even debating a bill to fund Homeland Security.
 
“It just doesn’t make sense.
 
“You’d think Democrats would at least want to give the Senate an opportunity to make improvements to the bill, if it needs them.
 
“Why would Democrats want to stand tall for the ability of politicians to do things President Obama himself has described as ‘unwise and unfair’?
 
“Why would Democrats go to the mat to protect the political class from the consequences of overreach President Obama has referred to as ‘ignoring the law’?
 
“Well, here’s the good news. There’s a way forward. There’s a way to end this Democrat filibuster.
 
“All it requires is a little common sense and a little Democrat courage.
 
“Remember: Several Democrats previously indicated unease with the idea of politicians overreaching in ways President Obama has seemed to imply would ‘violate the law.’ 
 
“So now is the time to back those words up.
 
“Now is the time for Democrats of good conscience to vote with us to break their party’s filibuster of Homeland Security funding and help us protect American democracy.”

McConnell Urges Senate Democrats To End Filibuster of Homeland Security Funding Bill

February 4, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding Senate Democrats’ filibuster of the DHS funding bill:

“It was good to see the new Senate come together and pass another bipartisan bill yesterday.

“It was a win for our nation’s heroes. And it was yet another win for the American people.
“But that was only one of the votes we took.

“Because just hours after joining Republicans to do something good for our veterans, Democrats voted to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

“It was enough to give anyone whiplash.

“And now Americans are wondering: What could possibly lead Democrats to filibuster Homeland Security funding?

“The legislation Democrats are filibustering would fund the Department of Homeland Security. It would also protect American democracy from kinds of overreach described by President Obama as ‘unwise and unfair.’

“That’s it.

“You’d think a bill like this would pass overwhelmingly.

“You’d think, at the very least, that Democrats would allow the Senate an opportunity to improve the bill if it needs to be.

“But Democrats voted to filibuster the bill outright. They prevented the legislation from even being debated.

“Today’s Democrat Party seems willing to go to any extreme to protect the kind of executive overreach President Obama once described as ‘not how our democracy functions’ – even to block Homeland Security funding to get its way.

“The whole situation is a bit perplexing too, given what some of our colleagues said just a few weeks ago; given what they said about overreach President Obama referred to as ‘ignoring the law.’

“One Democrat Senator said that ‘the President shouldn’t make such significant policy changes on his own.’

“Another Senator claimed he was ‘concerned about the constitutional separation of powers.’

“‘The Constitution,’ he said, ‘doesn’t say ‘if the Congress fails to act then the president can do x, y and z.’ It just doesn’t…’

“And a third Democrat Senator had this to say of the president’s plan for overreach: ‘[it] makes me uncomfortable.’

“And yet, all of these Senators voted to shut down debate and block funding for the Homeland Security Department. Every last Democrat voted to filibuster rather than work across the aisle to address the very issue they claimed to be concerned about.

“Perhaps today’s Democrat Party is so devoted to the right of politicians to engage in action that would, as President Obama once seemed to imply, ‘violate the law,’ that it cannot tolerate dissent.

“But this is no reason to shut down the Department of Homeland Security. This is no reason to prevent the Senate from even debating whether not to fund this department.

“So the Democrats’ Homeland Security filibuster needs to end now. And Democrat Senators who say they’re serious about keeping our nation safe — and addressing what President Obama acknowledged as ‘unwise and unfair’ overreach — need to prove it.”

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