Mitch McConnell has no qualms about shoving hundreds of billions of dollars at businesses, because he knows an economic revival is essential to Trump’s re-election campaign, and because most of the recipients are loyal Republicans. He draws the line at state and local governments, however. Anti-government ideology, and disdain for blue states with high levels of service in particular, prevails over electoral pragmatism in this case.
He may well live to regret it. Exacerbating the economic problems in swing states like Florida and Ohio isn’t going to help Trump in November. Even Texas may need help, given the amazing decline in oil prices. And red state residents like having their garbage picked up and their roads repaired, too. Civil servants aren’t parasites; they’re service providers, and valuable ones at that. McConnell would be wise to remember that.