McConnell Threatens To Make Life Difficult For Red-State Democrats

UNITED STATES - JULY 25: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., listens as Senate GOP leaders speak following the vote on the motion to proceed on health care legislation on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. (Photo By ... UNITED STATES - JULY 25: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., listens as Senate GOP leaders speak following the vote on the motion to proceed on health care legislation on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is reportedly threatening Senate Democrats with longer work weeks to keep those up for reelection off the campaign trail if they continue to hold up President Donald Trump’s nominees.

White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short told a group of Republican donors that McConnell plans to use this tactic to specifically pressure red-state Democrats, according to the Washington Examiner. This group reportedly includes vulnerable senators like Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Joe Manchin (D-WV). Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO).

Lacking the numbers to block Trump’s picks all together, Democrats have been taking advantage of floor rules to delay the process as long as possible and limit the number of appointees who can be confirmed during Trump’s tenure.  

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. McConnell runs the Senate like a Mafia Don. Fortunately, not for much longer.

    Since speeches inside the chamber can now be recorded, and shown, the targets can simply give their local stump speeches with pointed references to his actions, and have them delivered to crowds back home.

    Nobody really likes a bully. Even in a red state.

  2. Is this phallicly challenged asshat ever going to do his job?

    Kentucky, why did you ever elect him? Or Paul? Or Bevin? etc?

  3. threatening Senate Democrats with longer work weeks

    Good luck. Repugnicans love their 3-day workweek as much as anybody else.

  4. The problem with this tactic is that it would require Republican Senators to work longer weeks as well.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

105 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for xpurg8d Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for srfromgr Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for butlerknights Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for eduardoinohio Avatar for bluinmaine Avatar for Lacuna-Synecdoche Avatar for DuckmanGR Avatar for eglot Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for amandacorliss Avatar for stevenbelsky Avatar for katwillow Avatar for tena Avatar for maricaibo Avatar for flamingprogressive Avatar for doug834 Avatar for erik_t Avatar for qwerty23 Avatar for seveneagles Avatar for bcgister

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: