That Takes a Lot of Chutzpah

Our newly minted Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said the following in the course of making some prepared remarks, yesterday.

“Let’s pass legislation that focuses on jobs and the real concerns of the Middle Class.

“After so many years of sluggish growth, we’re finally starting to see some economic data that can provide a glimmer of hope; the uptick appears to coincide with the biggest political change of the Obama Administration’s long tenure in Washington: the expectation of a new Republican Congress. So this is precisely the right time to advance a positive, pro-growth agenda.

Every single thing that Mitch McConnell did over the last six years that could have possibly impacted the economy was designed to keep unemployment high and growth low. He limited the size of the initial post-recession stimulus bill and refused to consider a second bill to make up for a bigger than expected trough. He blocked all the president’s proposals for making smart investments and juicing the economy. Even as private sector jobs trickled back at a constant rate, McConnell refused to consider adding public sector jobs or aid to the states so that they could avoid public sector lay-offs.

But now he suggests that the improving economy is the result of people anticipating a Republican-run Senate.

We just experienced job growth in all 25 of our largest metro areas, and McConnell and his Republicans deserve credit for none of it. We could have had this kind of recovery four years ago.