WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor calling on Senate Democrats to allow Republican amendments that promote job growth:

“All week, Republicans have been coming to the floor to talk about our proposals to ignite job creation and get the economy back on track.

“We’ve been talking about ideas that can help Middle Class Americans who’ve been struggling just to make it in the Obama Economy.

“But our Democrat colleagues don’t seem to care all that much. They seem too preoccupied with an election that’s still 7 months away.

“Instead of working with us on ideas for job creation, they’ve been talking about pretty much anything else.

“Time and again yesterday, Republicans asked our Democrat colleagues for consideration of our amendments by the Senate. And time and again, those efforts were rebuffed.

“Republicans have a lot of good ideas. All we’re asking is for those ideas to get fair consideration. Let’s get our amendments pending, have a debate, and take a vote.

“But some Senate Democrats seem to see things differently. They don’t even want the elected representatives of the people to have a say – on what Americans say is the most important issue facing our country.

“This is especially galling because our friends across the aisle always seem to find time for poll-tested show-votes aimed at firing up the Left. They may not be overly concerned about passing jobs legislation for the American people, but you can bet they’ll be forcing everyone to endure plenty of political show votes as we get closer to November.

“The so-called ‘agenda’ they rolled out last week basically guarantees it.

“They’ve already admitted that they don’t really intend to pass the things it contains. That’s not the point, they say. The true aim is to help Democrats retain their Senate majority. They’ve basically admitted as much.

“No wonder Americans are so disillusioned with Washington.

“Look: The American people want us to focus on their concerns, not political show votes concocted by a few political strategists over at the Democrats’ campaign committee. And as I indicated, jobs are right up there at the top of that list.

“So we’ll see today whether or not Senate Democrats are actually serious about giving our constituents what they want. It appears our colleagues might allow consideration of one amendment. Just one.
At least the amendment we’d be considering is a good one – and I appreciate the work of Senator Thune and others in pulling it together.

“This amendment would reduce the tax burden on small businesses.

“It would provide relief to the Kentucky coal communities who’ve been under continual assault by the Administration.

“It would approve the Keystone pipeline, which would create thousands of jobs right away.

“It would repeal the medical device tax, which even many Democrats acknowledge is killing jobs.

“And it would eliminate Obamacare’s 30-hour workweek rule, which is cutting paychecks for the Middle Class.

“In other words, this is an amendment that seeks to take the causes of joblessness head on – rather than simply treating the symptoms of a down economy. It’s an amendment that aims to help Americans find jobs with a steady paycheck and the promise of a better future.

“There are other amendments not contained within this package that the Senate should be voting on too.

“For instance, the national Right to Work amendment Senator Paul and I just introduced – transformational legislation that would empower American workers and put our country on the path to greater prosperity.

“But the larger point is this: The Senate needs to be allowed to function again. When members file amendments on behalf of their constituents, those amendments should get due consideration. That’s particularly true when those amendments have bipartisan support and aim to address our still ailing economy and the families struggling in it.

“My hope is that our Democrat colleagues will allow this to happen.

“These are serious times, and we can’t afford to waste months on purely partisan proposals that have no hope of passing. We need to work together to advance serious proposals that expand jobs and opportunity.”