McSally more beholden to McConnell than to AZ?

Sen. Martha McSally is toeing the line of Republican Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell when it comes to stiffing cities and states in the next federal bailout bill for communities devastated by the coronavirus.

Which is pretty much every community.

Not long ago McConnell said he would prefer state governments to declare bankruptcy during the pandemic than receive more federal money.

He made it seem like some politicians were looking to cash in, saying, “We all have governors, regardless of party, who would love to have free money.”

It’s not free money.

It’s taxpayer money, which comes from all of us.

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema issued a statement, without using McConnell’s name, saying, “Partisan politics in Washington shouldn’t put responsible states like Arizona – or our cities, towns, or counties that operate on shoestring budgets – at risk of bankruptcy. Declaring bankruptcy would mean cuts to firefighters, police, health services, and job and business opportunities. We have bipartisan support in the Senate for revenue-replacement to keep our states, counties, and cities strong and thriving.”

But McSally is sticking with McConnell.

During a virtual town hall hosted by the mayor of Surprise, McSally echoed McConnell’s claim.

McSally said, “I’m just going to be frank with you guys. This is not the time for states and cities – unlike Arizona, unlike Surprise – who have mismanaged their budgets over the course of many decades, for them to use this as an opportunity to see you, as a taxpayer in Arizona, as a cash cow for

them in whatever city you want to talk about, whether it’s Chicago or New York or whatever.”

Perhaps her zeal in this matter is philosophically based. But I can’t help but wonder if McSally’s willingness to toe the McConnell line might have something to do with her needing a bailout herself, when it comes to the November election.

Back in 2018, a super PAC aligned with McConnell gave $8.5 million to Defend Arizona, a PAC that supported McSally in the campaign she lost to Kyrsten Sinema.

Not long ago, Politico reported that the Senate Leadership Fund, which is run by allies of McConnell, is reserving $67.1 million in TV ads across six states, including Arizona.

According to the report, Defend Arizona will spend $9.2 million on McSally’s behalf in the special election against Democrat Mark Kelly.

Why is that important?

Because politics, in many ways, IS money.

Last month it was reported that Kelly had raised $11 million in the first three months of the year and finished the quarter with $19.7 million in cash available, nearly double the campaign cash of McSally.

Not only do states and cities need financial help, but so, too, does McSally’s campaign.

And while McConnell isn’t willing to help local governments, he seems perfectly happy to bail out McSally.

And you know where she stands.