House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy says no one should be playing politics with the coronavirus.
Briefing reporters by phone, McCarthy criticized Senate Democrats for blocking Republican moves to add 250-billion-dollars to a small business relief fund. Dems are insisting on more money for hospitals and state-and-local governments. McCarthy noted that a stimulus fund for small businesses is running low due to overwhelming demand. The Republican leader also expressed condolences to families who have lost loved ones in the coronavirus outbreak.
McCarthy accused Democrats of continuing to pursue ideological priorities in bills related to the coronavirus. He said Dems are trying to "restructure government" to conform to their vision. McCarthy brushed off concerns about President Trump's firing of two independent inspectors general. One of them was slated to oversee dispersal of roughly two-trillion dollars in economic stimulus money. The other was involved in the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump's impeachment last year.
Trump also slammed an inspector general over a report about severe shortages in U.S. hospitals.
Meantime, McCarthy again ripped China's handling of the initial coronavirus outbreak. He insisted that China owes an apology to the world. McCarthy also said the entire world should rethink whether China should continue to play a primary role in fueling the global supply chain. McCarthy also echoed Trump's suspicions about possible fraud involving mail-in voting. He warned about a federal takeover of elections and circled back to criticism of Democrats and their priorities.
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