PRIORITIES FOR THE LAME DUCK

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding priorities for the lame duck and the bipartisan/bicameral meeting at the White House on November 30^th:

Both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate held many meetings this week to assess the priorities of our respective conferences.

I’m extremely proud of the clarity my Republican colleagues have expressed about what our priorities must be, and that we have listened to the American people. Last night, Republicans expressed the need to cut spending, reduce the debt, shrink the size and scope of the federal government, and help spur private sector employment. 

In short, change the way Washington is doing business to get our economy going again.

There is no question that is a sentiment shared by the American people. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t also express some dismay with the priorities that are being put forward from the other side of the aisle. 

This is a lame-duck session, and our colleagues have an opportunity to respond to the American people before we convene for the 112th Congress, but there is no reason why we can’t get to work on their behalf today.

Let me share with you what I believe our priorities need to be during the lame duck session: preventing massive tax increase on families and small businesses, and stopping the Washington spending spree.

It’s critical that we send a message to job creators that Congress won’t raise their taxes on January 1st.

In September I offered a bill that would keep the current tax rates in place permanently. In other words, nobody in America would get a tax hike at the end of the year.

The White House didn’t like that idea. Their preference was to raise taxes on small businesses.

I think it is safe to say that the American people clearly preferred our proposal. No tax hikes on anybody — especially in the middle of a recession.

We should be creating jobs, not killing them.

It is my hope that starting today, Democrats will turn to priorities that reflect the priorities of the American people.  If they choose that route, I know Republicans will be happy to work together to get them done.

If not, I’m confident Republicans will be eager to chart a different course on behalf of the American people.

When we return from the Thanksgiving break, Republican and Democrat leaders will have the opportunity to discuss priorities with the President in a meeting at the White House. I’m looking forward to that meeting, and to the opportunity to share with the President, again, the areas where we agree. I believe that we can work together to increase opportunities for job growth here at home through increased trade opportunities abroad. I agree with the President that we should increase our exploration of clean coal technology and nuclear energy. And Republicans feel strongly that we need to reduce spending and our national debt.

We can work together on all of those items, and the White House meeting is a good opportunity for congressional Democrats to join us on these efforts.