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The idea of staffers in Congress unionizing has been gaining a lot of support from Democratic and Progressive lawmakers. However, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke out against the idea, despite previously touting the GOP as pro-workers.
Speaking with Punchbowl News, McCarthy, who is also a top ally of former President Donald Trump, voiced his opposition to congressional staffers forming a union. McCarthy cited that it would not be good for the government if the staffers decided to unionize. This is despite McCarthy’s attempt to tout the Republican Party as “the American worker's party,” while over 100 members of his caucus are pushing legislation that would undermine union rights in the country.
“I don’t think it would be productive for the government,” said McCarthy.
To note, many aides in Capitol Hill are paid annual salaries of the $20,000 range and are struggling to get their basic necessities in one of the most expensive cities in the country. Many observers noted the disconnect between the Republican Party’s midterm branding efforts and its policy decisions, which usually benefit corporate interests and the richest.
The progressive advocacy group People for Bernie responded to McCarthy’s anti-union comments. “The Republican Party is the party of union busters,” the group tweeted.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer both endorsed the efforts of congressional staffers to unionize. The effort was already launched last week, called the Congressional Staffers Union. Both the House and the Senate will have to pass resolutions that will allow congressional staffers to unionize as well for the effort to succeed.
Meanwhile, following the recent censuring of the Republican National Committee of GOP Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, Republican lawmakers, including McCarthy, are divided. Many GOP lawmakers condemned the censuring while also reiterating that the events of January 6 was an insurrection compared to the attempts to downplay the events by the former president’s allies in Congress.
Cheney and Kinzinger were censured for serving on the Democrat-led congressional committee investigating the riots. The RNC also drew backlash for calling the insurrection “legitimate political discourse.” McCarthy has mostly evaded the question and was also mocked for running away when reporters pressed him on the matter.
When pressed on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s rebuke of January 6, saying it was an insurrection, McCarthy finally agreed.
“No one would disagree with that,” said the House Republican Leader, who is also being requested to testify before the committee.
