McConnell gets GOP backup in his move to snarl bipartisan U.S.-China bill

Earlier DU threads:
• McConnell Warns He Will 'Paralyze' the Senate
• Manchin rejected a threat from McConnell to sink a bipartisan bill to compete against China.

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Source: Politico

McConnell gets GOP backup in his move to snarl bipartisan U.S.-China bill

The Senate minority leader won't entertain the multi-billion-dollar competitiveness package while Democrats pursue a party-line spending plan. His gambit may not stop them, though.

By ANDREW DESIDERIO and SARAH FERRIS

07/11/2022 08:18 PM EDT

Senate Republicans are lining up to back Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as he threatens to tank multi-billion-dollar legislation aimed at confronting China, imperiling what initially appeared on track to join this Congress’ biggest bipartisan achievements.

McConnell’s threat, sent via tweet while senators were away from Washington, was aimed at derailing Democrats’ fledgling efforts to revive their party-line tax and climate bill, which all Republicans are expected to oppose. Although the Kentucky Republican supported the U.S.-China competition bill, known by some as USICA, he’s now vowing to block it if Democrats move forward with their separate legislation.

The move jostled lawmakers from both parties. But even Republicans who toiled on the now-at-risk competitiveness bill are behind him.

“USICA is a national security imperative,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), whose effort to spur microchip production is included in the legislation. “I interpreted that as Sen. McConnell’s firm indication that he wants us to deal with that and not a partisan reconciliation bill.”

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Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/11/republican-us-china-bill-00045232