KDP: ICYMI: As Kentuckians Struggle Financially, McConnell Says “It’s Not a Catastrophic Situation.”

By KENNY COLSTONKentucky Democratic PartyFrankfort, KY — As Mitch McConnell continues to delay another federal relief package in Congress, his latest comments that the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is “not a catastrophic situation” shows just how out of touch he is with Kentuckians. 

McConnell made the comments in an interview with the Bowling Green Daily News.

McConnell’s comments come as more than 8 million Americans have slid into poverty since May. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy reports clear signs that the economic recovery spurred by the CARES Act has halted, as job growth has stalled and Kentucky’s unemployment rate is still double what it was in March. 

Additionally, 2,843 Kentuckians in the travel industry are at risk of partial or permanent layoffs; restaurateurs and small businesses in the Kentucky hospitality industry have been begging McConnell for direct aid for months instead of more debt from PPP loans, signaling large amounts of closures without direct help; and a survey of SNAP recipients in Kentucky show 70 percent of those surveyed struggled to buy enough food without additional assistance. Another 37 percent had issues with job loss or reduced hours. 

In a statement, Kentucky Democratic Party spokesperson Marisa McNee said that McConnell has once again shown that he’s out of touch and does not care about Kentuckians.

“This is just another example of how out of touch Mitch is with Kentucky. He doesn’t care about us, and we deserve better. We deserve a true leader like Amy McGrath.”