Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Wednesday ridiculed the idea of making Election Day a federal holiday, a proposal Democrats have long sought and included in the new Congress’ messaging legislation.
“Just what America needs, another paid holiday and a bunch of government workers being paid to go out and work for I assume our folks—our colleagues on the other side, on their campaigns,” McConnell said. “This is the Democrat plan to restore democracy? A brand-new week of paid vacation for every federal employee who would like to hover around while you cast your ballot?”
The proposal in the recently introduced legislation calls for one day off for federal workers, “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2020,” and encourages private employers to follow suit.
The Election Day proposal is a small part of HR 1, House Democrats’ sweeping anti-corruption package which includes proposals like automatic voter registration and measures to prevent partisan gerrymandering.
Watch McConnell speak here:
McConnell mocks idea of making Election Day a paid holiday pic.twitter.com/kzlGmO6EYH
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) January 30, 2019
