Mitch McConnell

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Mitch McConnell

Credentials

Background

Mitch McConnell is the Republican senior Senator for Kentucky, having first been elected in 1984. McConnell has been the Senate Majority Leader since 2015, having served as Minority Leader from 2007.3Mitch McConnell: Biography,” Senate.gov. Archived June 4, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 4Majority and Minority Leaders,” United States Senate. Archived June 4, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/874Pv

After graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law, McConnell worked as an intern for John Sherman Cooper and as chief legislative assistant to Marlow Cook, both Republican Senators for Kentucky. He later served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General during the administration of President Gerald Ford. Before his election as Senator, McConnell was judge-executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky.5Mitch McConnell: Biography,” Senate.gov. Archived June 4, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

McConnell currently sits on the following Senate Committees: Agriculture, Nutrition And Forestry; Appropriations; Rules & Administration.

He is married to Elaine L. Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation and former Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush.6Mitch McConnell: 116th Congress Committees,” Senate.gov. Archived June 4, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 7Mitch McConnell: Biography,” Senate.gov. Archived June 4, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

McConnell has consistently cast doubt on climate science and opposed action to reduce emissions.

In 2017, he was one of 22 Republican Senators who signed a letter, coordinated by James Inhofe, to President Trump urging him to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Analysis by The Guardian and the Center for Responsive Politics found that the group had collectively received over $10m from the fossil fuel industry over the previous three election cycles, with McConnell receiving more than $1.5m. In the 2018 election cycle, McConnell received $100,150 in donations from Alliance Resource Partners, an Oklahoma-based coal company.8Scott Wartman. “McConnell talks Brent Spence, heroin, Ebola,” Cincinnati Enquirer, October 2, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zBSoO 9Tom McCarthy, Lauren Gambino. “The Republicans who urged Trump to pull out of Paris deal are big oil darlings,” The Guardian, June 1, 2017. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Z7Cx8 10Mitch McConnell,” Center for Responsive Politics. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/RtBoe

During the Obama administration, McConnell withheld Republican support for major presidential initiatives, making extensive use of the filibuster and blocking the majority of Obama’s judicial nominees.11Alexander Sammon. “Democratic Candidates Need to Call to Abolish the Filibuster,” Pacific Standard, March 8, 2019. Archived June 4, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/3kyrE 12Alison Durkee. “Merrick Who? McConnell Says He’d Totally Fill Another SCOTUS Seat in 2020,” Vanity Fair, May 28, 2019. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ksluJ

Koch Ties

McConnell has close ties to the billionaire Koch brothers, having spoken at conferences organised by their political network. In a leaked audio recording from 2014, McConnell revealed plans to a meeting of Koch-allied donors, saying that if the Republicans gained control of Congress, they could use the budget process to force the president to roll back his priorities.

McConnell said: “We’re going to go after them on health care, on financial services, on the Environmental Protection Agency, across the board.” He told the Kochs: “I don’t know where we’d be without you.” Other Republican figures including Tom Cotton, Cory Gardner and Joni Ernst were also present and praised the Kochs for their funding of Republican candidates’ campaigns.13Jonathan Weisman. “In Audio From a Koch Event, McConnell Envisions Undoing Obama Initiatives,” New York Times, August 27, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/5L8tA 14Paul Blumenthal. “Mitch McConnell Paid For Koch Group Meeting Shortly Before Blitz Of Pro-GOP Senate Ads,” Huffington Post, October 30, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/QpaUr

According to data obtained by the Center for Responsive Politics, McConnell has received $86,350 directly from Koch Industries since 2008.15Koch Industries,” Center for Responsive Politics. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/wRziw

Positions

On his Senate-hosted website, McConnell states: “We need to both find more energy and use less. Every source of energy should be considered, especially coal, which remains a vital source of energy for Kentucky.”16Mitch McConnell: Issues,” Senate.gov. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zGPgf

In 2014, McConnell said that approving the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline would be Republican Senators’ top priority and in 2016 claimed that Obama had “sat on the Keystone pipeline throughout his entire eight years, even though his own State Department said it had no measurable impact on climate.”17Elana Schor and Burgess Everett. “McConnell: Keystone will be GOP Senate’s first move,” Politico, December 16, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ItkdM

McConnell has played a leading role in opposing stricter campaign finance laws in the U.S. political system, challenging the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in the Supreme Court in 2003 on the basis that it allegedly infringed on First Amendment rights.18Ryan Devereaux. “Citizens United: how the US election campaign finance rules evolved,” The Guardian, January 20, 2012. Archived June 4, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/w3K9g

In the 2016 Republican primaries, McConnell initially backed fellow Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, before switching his support for Donald Trump.19Steven Nelson. “Who Still Stands With Rand?US News, June 1, 2015. Archived June 5, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. 20Manu Raju, Ted Barrett, Tom LoBianco. “Citing swing-state polling, McConnell shows confidence in Trump,” CNN, May 10, 2016. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/9Rt64

Stance on Climate Change

October 2, 2014

In an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, McConnell said:21Scott Wartman. “McConnell talks Brent Spence, heroin, Ebola,” Cincinnati Enquirer, October 2, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zBSoO

“We can debate this forever. George Will had a column in the last year or so pointing out that in the 70s, we were concerned the ice age was coming. I’m not a scientist. I’m interested in protecting Kentucky’s economy.”22Scott Wartman. “McConnell talks Brent Spence, heroin, Ebola,” Cincinnati Enquirer, October 2, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zBSoO

Key Quotes

August 21, 2018

In a press release on his website relating to former President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, McConnell stated:23McConnell on the Affordable Clean Energy Rule,” Senate.gov. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/lavXY

“The Obama Administration’s so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ offered a typical story from that era. An innocent-seeming name. A pleasant-sounding objective. But underneath, an intrusive regulatory regime – built not on effective policy, but on far-left ideology. That’s why I am so grateful that, today, the Trump Administration is unveiling its plan to pare back this unfair, unworkable, and likely illegal policy.”

“This so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ they dreamed up would’ve had no meaningful effect on global emissions. It would, however, have packed up middle-class American jobs and sent them overseas. It would have piled a heavier burden onto the most vulnerable families. Lower-income Americans are hit the hardest when energy costs take off. And this plan was projected to yield double-digit percentage increases in electricity costs in 40 states, including Kentucky. Unfair. Ineffective. Unaffordable. More than likely illegal. That’s quite the pedigree.”24McConnell on the Affordable Clean Energy Rule,” Senate.gov. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/lavXY

November 11, 2016

McConnell told a news conference in Louisville, Kentucky:25Timothy Cama. “McConnell asks Trump to approve Keystone pipeline,” The Hill, November 11, 2016. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Jssih

“One thing I do hope he’ll [President Trump] do, that I recommended yesterday that won’t surprise any of you, and that is approve the Keystone pipeline.”

“The president sat on the Keystone pipeline throughout his entire eight years, even though his own State Department said it had no measurable impact on climate.”26Timothy Cama. “McConnell asks Trump to approve Keystone pipeline,” The Hill, November 11, 2016. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Jssih

Key Deeds

July 31, 2018

McConnell was called a “sellout” by pro-Trump conspiracy theorist and Fox News presenter Lou Dobbs for downplaying the urgency of building a southern border wall, saying that funding for the wall would “probably” not happen before the midterm elections. Dobbs said that McConnell’s message to the American people was that the Republican Party would “do exactly” what billionaire donors Charles and David Koch want.27Lou Dobbs: McConnell & GOP Are ‘Sellouts’ to Koch Brothers, Will Blame Trump for 2018 Losses,” Fox Insider, July 31, 2018. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Y4eHU

November 11, 2016

McConnell called on Trump to approve the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, claiming that Obama had “sat on the Keystone pipeline throughout his entire eight years, even though his own State Department said it had no measurable impact on climate.”28Timothy Cama. “McConnell asks Trump to approve Keystone pipeline,” The Hill, November 11, 2016. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Jssih

March 2015

McConnell wrote to every state governor urging them to refuse to carry out climate change regulations introduced under President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.29Coral Davenport. “Republican Governors Signal Their Intent to Thwart Obama’s Climate Rules,” New York Times, July 2, 2015. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/oqYNG

August 25, 2014

McConnell’s campaign reported paying for catering for a meeting at the offices of Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce in Virginia, which has been described by Politico as the “Koch brothers’ secret bank.” Its affiliated super PAC, Freedom Partners Action Fund, was reported by the Huffington Post to have spent nearly $16 million supporting Republican candidates in key seats.30Mike Allen, Jim Vandehei. “The Koch brothers’ secret bank,” Politico, September 11, 2013. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zSIg4 31Paul Blumenthal. “Mitch McConnell Paid For Koch Group Meeting Shortly Before Blitz Of Pro-GOP Senate Ads,” Huffington Post, October 30, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/QpaUr

June 15, 2014

In a leaked audio recording, McConnell revealed plans to a meeting of Koch-allied donors, saying that if the Republicans gained control of Congress, they could use the budget process to force the president to roll back his priorities: “In the House and Senate, we own the budget… So what does that mean? That means that we can pass the spending bill. And I assure you that in the spending bill, we will be pushing back against this bureaucracy by doing what’s called placing riders in the bill. No money can be spent to do this or to do that. We’re going to go after them on health care, on financial services, on the Environmental Protection Agency, across the board. All across the federal government, we’re going to go after it.”32Jonathan Weisman. “In Audio From a Koch Event, McConnell Envisions Undoing Obama Initiatives,” New York Times, August 27, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/5L8tA

Other Republican figures including Tom Cotton, Cory Gardner and Joni Ernst were also present and praised the Kochs for their funding of Republican candidates’ campaigns.33Jonathan Weisman. “In Audio From a Koch Event, McConnell Envisions Undoing Obama Initiatives,” New York Times, August 27, 2014. Archived June 5, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/5L8tA

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