Sen. John Kennedy gave a stern speech on the floor of the United States Senate on Monday as Republicans and Democrats struggle to agree on a COVID-19 relief bill for Americans.
“Do you know what the American people are thinking right now,” Kennedy asked. “They’re thinking that the brain is an amazing organ. It starts working in a mother’s womb, and it doesn’t stop working until you get elected to Congress.
“Do you know what the American people are thinking right now, Mr. President? They’re thinking that this country was founded by geniuses. But it’s being run by a bunch of idiots.”
Kennedy continued, saying Americans are asking why members of the Senate are doubling down on stupid.
“Now, this is not a Republican bill, Mr. Chairman. This is a bipartisan bill,” he said. “We have spent hours and hours and hours negotiating these provisions with our Democratic friends. This is not a slush fund. This is a bill to help people and businesses in America. This bill is going to increase unemployment insurance. This bill is going to send $1,200 to every man and woman in America, taxpayers who make less than $75,000 a year and $500 for each of their children.”
He said the bill will help small businesses, providing up to $350 billion for small businesses for the next eight weeks. He also said the bill will help companies with more than 500 employees.
“In the America I was raised in, in growing your business and becoming as large as possible was something we aspired to,” Kennedy said. “It’s not a gift. We can negotiate warrants. We can negotiate stock options. We can take a piece of their — of their company in stock. Mr. President, I don’t understand it. I get politics. I have been around it my whole life.
“But there comes a time when we have to stop thinking about the next election and start thinking about the next generation. What are we going to leave to our children if we allow this economy to crash?”
