Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) warned Wednesday of a potential “second pandemic” — of lawsuits — if his idea of shielding businesses from liability is not included in the next round of legislation crafted by Congress in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
McConnell’s loaded description came during a radio interview as he and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) continued to jockey over the scope of the legislation. Democrats are insisting that it include hundreds of billions of dollars in additional aid to states and localities to make up for lost tax revenue during the pandemic.
“Well look, there’s no question at all governors regardless of party would like to have more money, and I’m open to discussing that,” McConnell said on Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show.” “But what [Pelosi is] ignoring is the second pandemic, which is going to be lawsuits against doctors, nurses, hospitals and brave business people.”
McDonnell suggested this week that any legislation that provides state and local aid should also include some sort of “
liability shield” that would prevent businesses from being sued by customers and perhaps employees who contract the coronavirus, an idea that has been under consideration at the White House.
“I mean this is the best way to protect the brave people who have been taking care of covid-19 patients, and it will take a good deal of bravery to open up their business,” McConnell said.
“If there’s a lawyer out on the sidewalk looking at every move you make as to whether you somehow have been irresponsible in this phase one and two that we move into as we reopen America, that’s not the way to get the country going again.”
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) have both spoken out against liability changes, suggesting that employees of businesses that are reopening deserve more protections, not fewer.
On Tuesday, Schumer accused McConnell of “subterfuge” for pushing a measure that could derail assistance to cash-strapped states and localities.
