McConnell Ignores Election Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brad Woodhouse, (202) 263-4576
DATE: December 12, 2006 Jeremy Funk, (202) 263-4576

McConnell Ignores Election Results, Vows to Oppose (Read: Obstruct) Key Parts of Agenda for Middle Class Families, Protect Giveaways to Corporate America

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Working to Earn “Obstructionist” Label Even Before 1110th Congress is Gaveled in, Says He Will Oppose Changes to Prescription Drug Program, Will Protect Subsidies for Big Oil

Washington – In an interview with Bloomberg, incoming Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), promising to earn the label “obstructionist” early in his tenure, said he will use the 49 votes Republicans have in the U.S. Senate to ignore the results of the election and block key proposals included on the progressive agenda including requiring Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices as part of Part D and rolling back tax breaks for Big Oil despite record profits for the industry.

“They're in the majority, they have an opportunity to set the agenda,'' said McConnell, 64. ``But once a measure is called up, the 49 of us will have a lot to say about what happens.'' [Bloomberg.com, December 12, 2006]

“Apparently, Mitch McConnell didn’t lean diddly-squat from the election and he plans to obstruct key elements of a progressive agenda which have overwhelming support from Americans from all walks of life,” said Americans United spokesman Brad Woodhouse. “You would have thought that Senator McConnell and his colleagues would have gotten the message that the era of trickle down economics, which places the interests of those with the deepest pockets ahead of everyone else, is over. The two biggest and most corrupt corporate giveaways of the last decade are the tax breaks and subsidies which have gone to Big Oil and the Part D prescription drug program which was written by and for the benefit of the multi-national pharmaceutical companies. On November 7th voters railed against the systemic culture of corruption which resulted in this ‘feeding at the trough’ type of legislating, but without even a hint of shame Mitch McConnell plans to continue to protect the corporate elite and the moneyed special interests at the expense of middle class Americans. Senator McConnell isn’t wanting any time earning the title ‘Obstructionist Extraordinaire.’

McConnell said he would fight to protect $2.8 billion in subsidies provides to oil companies in last year’s energy bill – provided at a time Big Oil was enjoying record profits.

“More troubling, he said, is the Democratic plan to reverse $2.8 billion in subsidies for oil and gas companies in last year's energy legislation, and perhaps repeal oil-industry tax breaks dating from the early part of the last century. ‘Are you talking about raising taxes on energy?’ McConnell said when asked about those plans. ‘I think tax increases will have a tough row to hoe.’ [Bloomberg.com, December 12, 2006]

McConnell also vowed to oppose changes to the costly, confusing and corrupt prescription drug program which could reduce prices for prescription drugs for seniors and potentially save taxpayers billions of dollars on the program. President Bush and the Republican controlled Congress ensured that Part D would be a boon to drug companies, at the expense of seniors, by writing into the law a strict prohibition on Medicare using its bulk purchasing power to negotiate for lower prices for prescription drugs for seniors.

McConnell also said he sees no reason to change the Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors. Democrats promised to alter it to allow the Medicare system to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, and incoming House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, has said he wants to require such negotiations. [Bloomberg.com, December 12, 2006]

Americans United is leading an effort with more than 40 other national groups, including USAction and Campaign for America’s Future, to pass the economic elements of the 100 Hour Agenda in the House of Representatives as outlined by incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and then to move each one these issues through a closely divided Senate and have them signed into law by President Bush. The effort, known as the Change America Now campaign, or CAN, is advocating for the following issues during the first 100 legislative hours in the House of Representatives:

• Increasing the Minimum Wage
• Directing Medicare to Negotiate with Drug Companies for Lower Prices as part of Part D
• Cutting the Interest Rate on Student Loans in half
• Repealing Tax Breaks for Big Oil and Investing in Alternative Energy

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