U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) meets with reporters following the weekly Senate caucus luncheons on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2024. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
Former Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) remains missing after a mystery illness that resulted in an urgent 911 call about a month ago. That is now causing complications as the Senate has a few weeks left to pass the 2027 government funding bill.
McConnell, who turned 84 earlier this year, isn't merely a vote along with Republicans; he's a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. He is desperately needed to pass any funding bills out of the committees, the Washington Post explained on Thursday.
Currently, there's a stalemate between the two parties over defense funding, and Republicans have little hope of moving the bill to the full Senate without McConnell's deciding vote. The conflict comes from President Donald Trump's demand for an additional $87.6 billion to fund his ongoing war with Iran.
The goal was to begin hearings on June 22 to deal with non-defense matters, but those plans were put on hold after McConnell, a GOP Senate aide told the Post.
A separate Republican congressional aide claimed that the delay wasn't about McConnell at all, and that appropriations debates had been going on before McConnell due to Democrats. However, Democrats don't hold any power in the House or Senate. With McConnell, Republicans wouldn't need Democratic votes. Without McConnell, a stalemate persists.
Without McConnell, the only option for Republicans is to make a bipartisan agreement with Democrats. That isn't likely to include funding of the Iran war, however. It means the only option left for funding is another stopgap measure, like a continuing resolution, funding at current levels. Otherwise, there would be yet another government shutdown.
Meanwhile, there's very little information available about the Republican's health as conspiracy theories abound about whether or not he's actually alive. Earlier this week, far-right Trump ally Laura Loomer alleged she heard reports that he was only alive as a result of machines. On Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Bashshear (D-Ky.) demanded proof of life from McConnell, saying that the state's constituents deserve to know what was happening. The ordeal could ultimately end up in court.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) claimed in a comment this week that his colleagues had no information or details about McConnell and hadn't spoken with him.
“Many of us aren’t speaking about Mitch McConnell’s condition because we know nothing about his condition,” Lee posted on X, responding to Loomer.
Former staffer Scott Jennings then posted on X that he'd had a nearly 20-minute conversation and that he was alive and alert. The offices of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) followed, saying that they'd spoken with McConnell, Politico reported.
Democrats are refusing to support any further funding of the Iran war. As of Wednesday, the war was back on after weeks of peace negotiations.