With a number of U.S. Senate seats yet to be decided, Connecticut’s two U.S. senators — both Democrats — say cooperation across the aisle would be necessary to get anything done in the next Senate.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal says control of the Senate would probably hinge on one or two seats next year.
“Nothing is going to get past the Senate unless there are some bipartisan agreements. And I’m determined to fight for the values and interests of the state of Connecticut. And what I see to be our national interest. But at the same time work with colleagues as we’ve done for the last 10 years and get things done,” Blumenthal said.
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy is wary of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. In 2009, McConnell vowed to block President Barack Obama’s agenda. Murphy wonders if that would change for a President Joe Biden.
“Maybe the relationship between Biden and McConnell is different. And maybe that will result in a different outcome from 2009. But I wonder whether Mitch McConnell is going to grow new stripes,” Murphy said.
Blumenthal agrees that might make cooperation with Republicans difficult.
That includes additional federal coronavirus relief funding for state and local governments, small businesses and individual stimulus checks.
