McConnell claims expanding voting rights is 'socialist' during rant on the Senate floor

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is refusing to allow a vote on legislation that would expand voting rights in the United States.

Democrats in the House of Representatives have already passed the For the People Act, which would make Election Day a federal holiday, require states to offer automatic voter registration, and restore voting rights to convicted felons, among other things.

Speaking on the Senate floor earlier this month, the Republican leader blasted Democrats for pushing the sweeping anti-corruption and voting rights bill.

“Like many Americans, I’ve spent the last several weeks watching with interest as prominent leaders in the Democratic Party have engaged in a political footrace. They’re sprinting as far left as possible, as quickly as possible, trying to outdo one another. The result is that one of our two major political parties has begun embracing one radical, half-baked socialist proposal after another. It’s really a sight to see," McConnell said.

“First came the Democrat Politician Protection Act, a sweeping Washington D.C. takeover of what Americans can say about politics and how they elect their representatives. Speaker Pelosi and her House colleagues were ready with that from day one of this new Congress. They chose it as their ceremonial first bill of the year – H.R. 1. And let me say, this is quite a piece of legislation to hold up as the defining product of the new Democrat House majority.

“House Democrats are championing an unprecedented takeover of our nation’s electoral system -- one that would overhaul campaign rules and make it harder for private citizens to exercise their right to political speech. Replace private money in political campaigns with your taxpayer dollars—up to $5 million to any candidate that wants it—even the candidates you disagree with. And swing the partisan balance of the federal authority with the final say in election regulations," McConnell continued.

“Oh, and it all comes under the guise of -- you guessed it -- ‘restoring democracy.’ Of course, this sprawling, 622-page doorstop is never going to become law. I certainly don’t plan to even bring it to the floor here in the Senate."