Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHillicon Valley: Apple rolls out coronavirus screening app, website | Pompeo urged to crack down on coronavirus misinformation from China | Senators push FTC on price gouging | Instacart workers threaten strike Trump signs T coronavirus relief package Pelosi not invited by Trump to White House coronavirus relief bill's signing MORE (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that "Medicare for All" will not move in the Senate as long as Republicans control the chamber.
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHillicon Valley: Apple rolls out coronavirus screening app, website | Pompeo urged to crack down on coronavirus misinformation from China | Senators push FTC on price gouging | Instacart workers threaten strike Trump signs T coronavirus relief package Pelosi not invited by Trump to White House coronavirus relief bill's signing MORE (R-Ky.) said on Wednesday that "Medicare for All" will not move in the Senate as long as Republicans control the chamber. "Not as long as I'm majority leader. It ought to be Medicare for none. … You want to turn America into a socialist country this is the first step," McConnell told Fox News's Brett Baier.
Pointing to the current debate among the Democratic presidential candidates on the progressive proposal, he added that "full socialism" was "on display" as part the primary.
"I think what we're seeing here is full socialism on display in the Democratic primaries for president," McConnell said.
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Bernie SandersHillicon Valley: Apple rolls out coronavirus screening app, website | Pompeo urged to crack down on coronavirus misinformation from China | Senators push FTC on price gouging | Instacart workers threaten strike Overnight Energy: Court upholds Trump repeal of Obama fracking rule | Oil price drop threatens fracking boom | EPA eases rules on gasoline sales amid coronavirus The Hill's Campaign Report: Sanders pushes on in 2020 race MORE (I-Vt.) introduced his revamped "Medicare for All" legislation earlier Wednesday with the support of 14 Senate Democrats including four other presidential hopefuls. The bill would largely eliminate private insurance and institute a single-payer system managed by the government.The bill has no chance of currently becoming law with Republicans in control of the Senate, where it would needs 60 votes along with President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump orders US troops back to active duty for coronavirus response Trump asserts power to decide info inspector general for stimulus gives Congress Fighting a virus with the wrong tools MORE's signature. But it's become a top punching bag for Republican lawmakers as an example of Democrats shifting to the left ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
Donald John TrumpTrump orders US troops back to active duty for coronavirus response Trump asserts power to decide info inspector general for stimulus gives Congress Fighting a virus with the wrong tools MORE's signature. But it's become a top punching bag for Republican lawmakers as an example of Democrats shifting to the left ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Major health care legislation is also unlikely in an era of divided government. Trump threw GOP lawmakers into a frenzy recently when he said during a closed-door lunch that he wanted them to craft legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare. He later backtracked saying it wouldn't be taken up until 2021, after the presidential election.
"Well look we made that effort last Congress," McConnell added on Wednesday. "Clearly the Democratic House is not going to pass it. So we're not going to spend time in the Senate on things that have literally no chance of becoming law"
