Last month, far-right Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who also chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), released a lengthy 11 point plan describing what Republicans would do if they regained a congressional majority in the 2022 midterms.
The plan included some wildly unpopular platforms. Scott vowed that a Republican Senate would ban government documents from asking for someone's race or sexual orientation, even on census forms, and that they would end diversity training in the military. But most consequentially, Scott vowed the Senate would force all Americans—even the poorest in the nation—to pay income tax. This would raise taxes on millions of Americans, despite conservatives' supposed opposition to expanded taxation.
The document didn't sit well with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had earlier said Republicans wouldn't be releasing an agenda ahead of the 2022 midterms. Not only was Scott's document in defiance of that, but McConnell also privately chastised Scott for supposedly giving Democrats ammo to use in midterm ads, where they're almost certain to emphasize Scott's calls for universal income tax.
The two men appeared before the press with some of their other Republican colleagues recently, and Scott managed to leave just in time before McConnell was asked about their conversations.
Watch below.
When asked about Sen. Rick Scott's agenda, @LeaderMcConnell: "We will not have as part of our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half the American people and sunsets Social Security and Medicare within five years. That will not be part of the Republican Senate Majority Agenda." pic.twitter.com/XN7q9Kc6b4
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 1, 2022
Asked specifically about the tax increases in Scott's plan, McConnell responded (unaware that Scott left):
"Well, Senator Scott is behind me and he can address the issue of his particular measure. If we're fortunate enough to have the majority next year, I'll be the majority leader. I'll decide in consultation with my members what to put on the floor. Let me tell you what will not be a part of our agenda. We will not have as part of our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half of the American people."
The comments didn't reflect kindly on Scott.
this is white on white violence. https://t.co/ogDKqXDn2e
— Hayes Brown (@HayesBrown) March 1, 2022
Rick Scott has admitted they will raise taxes on half of Americans. The poorer half. Mitch tries to explain it away. It’s what happens when you hang out with dumb f**ks Mitch! https://t.co/N5hDdAwT3n
— Coach Kurt V (@coach_kurt) March 2, 2022
He got a spanking from the Turtle for his 11 point plan. Especially the part about taxing the poor and the old. https://t.co/6nGtS41ya3
— Ebeneezer's Squeeze (@lo63659575) March 1, 2022
Incredibly rare Mitch McConnell W. https://t.co/tnoQOjJ3iN
— Joseph Gonzales🌐🇹🇼🇺🇦🇰🇷 (@RidnWthBiden) March 1, 2022
Republicans' tax agenda is so toxic McConnell hits it harder than he hit Trump for inciting an insurrection at his own workplace. https://t.co/0gUkD7whna
— Ashley Schapitl (@AshleySchapitl) March 1, 2022
Not that people trust Mitch McConnell.
My “we will not be sunsetting social security and Medicare within five years” shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by my shirt. https://t.co/srUQoJxvkT
— Tim Ricchuiti (@timricchuiti) March 2, 2022
Okay, why don't you tell us what's actually in your agenda, then?#WhatDoRepublicansStandFor? https://t.co/WV9g2a3f35
— Cyrus Toulabi (@CyrusToulabi) March 1, 2022
The first rule of being a Senate Republican is that you don't talk about cutting Social Security until AFTER the election https://t.co/mKir7eClIl
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) March 2, 2022
Republicans are favored to win back a congressional majority in November, but those chances will likely dwindle if they run on raising taxes for millions.
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