Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is reportedly trying to hamper the White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) negotiations on a COVID-19 relief bill, fearing that bringing it to a vote before Election Day will complicate his efforts to rush Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation.
Unnamed Senate Republicans told the New York Times on Tuesday that McConnell had told them he urged the White House to abandon talks with Pelosi because a vote on a stimulus package may throw off the Senate GOP’s schedule on fast-tracking the nomination.
Additionally, Republicans are reportedly worried that the White House may agree on too generous a relief bill with Democrats that would trap vulnerable GOP incumbents into clashing with either President Donald Trump or fiscally conservative voters.
