March 18, 2020/Press

As Tillis, McConnell Continue to Delay Aid Package, Local Health Leader Confirms They “Have Not Heard from Tillis” about Coronavirus

Senator Tillis, Mitch McConnell, and Senate Republicans continue to delay a bipartisan federal aid package that would provide North Carolinians with the relief they need, including free coronavirus testing, expanded unemployment insurance, and additional food assistance.

Yet as the Senate continues to hold up the relief package, a local public health official confirmed that her office has been in regular contact with their local congresswoman but not Senator Thom Tillis.

Speaking at a Mecklenburg county commissioners meeting last night, Mecklenburg county public health director Gibbie Harris said, when asked whether she was “in tune” with representatives in Washington, that her office has “not heard from Tillis” about the recent coronavirus outbreak.

Yesterday, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell confirmed the Senate will vote on the federal relief package as passed by the U.S. House and negotiated with the White House, and Senator Tillis confirmed he will support the package.

More relief is welcome but the timing begs several key questions:

  • Why did Senator Tillis and Mitch McConnell go home for a three-day weekend last week if they plan to vote for the package that passed the U.S. House on Friday?
  • If Senator Tillis has not been in contact with the public health director of the most populous county in the state — his home county — what was he doing last weekend?