LOUISVILLE, Ky. (LEX 18) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was in his home state on Monday morning to discuss details of the new Federal spending bill, which Congress recently approved, and how it’ll impact Kentuckians.
Naturally, a few questions about the impeachment of President Trump were thrown the Senator’s way too, but he politely deflected those.
“We can’t take up a matter we don’t have,” McConnell said. “So hopefully it’ll be on the way over at some point,” he continued.
McConnell preferred to focus on the spending bill, shared some insider information on how those get passed and discussed the money he managed to allocate for Kentucky. McConnell listed several initiatives that will, or already are, receiving federal subsidies here in the Commonwealth, such as: a pension for coal miners, a new age minimum for purchasing tobacco, working to further the growth of hemp and funding to battle the infusion of Asian Carp, which are becoming prevalent in many of our lakes in western Kentucky.
“It’s a huge problem, and threatens our west Kentucky lakes, and I’ve put in $25,000,000 for this study,” McConnell said, while also noting that some work there has already begun in the form of a device to prevent Carp from entering the lakes.
In all, McConnell said he was able to allocate 400 million dollars in federal money for these various Kentucky initiatives, something he claimed wouldn’t have been possible if not for the weight he carries as Majority Leader.
“I think most Kentuckians are proud of the fact that a person from our state is in the position I’m in,” McConnell said. “It’s not just a question of pride, but it’s a question of delivering. It makes a difference for Kentucky.” McConnell said he’s proud of being elected, unopposed, as his party’s leader seven consecutive times, and in no way feels his stance on national issues are, “incompatible in anyway with representing Kentucky.” He went on to say, he thinks his position on those national issues, helps him in his fight for Kentuckians.
McConnell, referring to a commercial from his likely challenger next fall, also posed a question directed at the Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Amy McGrath. He asked her tell him how the things he worked to include in this bill, are wrong for Kentucky.
McGrath has often said McConnell is what’s wrong with Washington.
Still eight days until the start of 2020, but this battle is in full swing.
