Sen. Mitt Romney admonished Democrats and expressed shock after they voted to kill an economic relief bill aimed at providing financial assistance to people and businesses affected by the coronavirus.
"Nothing in the Senate has shocked me, until today," Romney tweeted late Sunday night. "Standing in the way of a critically needed rescue package is irresponsible and reckless."
The Utah Republican continued: "Dems say not enough money to states: nearly $200 billion isn’t chump change. Hospitals get at least $75 billion."
"As for funds for companies, it’s to keep entities that employ millions of Americans from folding—it’s to save jobs," Romney wrote. "Keep this up a little longer and we will go from social distancing to social destruction."
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Nothing in the Senate has shocked me, until today. Standing in the way of a critically needed rescue package is irresponsible and reckless. Dems say not enough money to states: nearly $200 billion isn’t chump change. Hospitals get at least $75 billion.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 23, 2020
Senate Democrats first rejected the GOP bill Sunday, saying it did not put enough money in the hands of working Americans and left open the possibility of large companies mismanaging funds given by the federal government.
"The McConnell-GOP bill includes huge bailouts without protections for people and workers and without accountability," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. "It has shortfalls of money for our hospitals & medical workers."
Democrats again rejected the bill after a second vote Monday, but Schumer said they were "very close" to a deal with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Democrats want at least a four-month extension in unemployment insurance, extra money for states to pay for treating residents with the coronavirus, and additional worker protection, among other demands, the Washington Examiner reported.