Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) rebuked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in a recent fundraising email sent to supporters.
The Florida senator panned McConnell in the email, alleging that McConnell ousted him from the Commerce Committee for challenging him for the Republican leadership post last fall — something that McConnell has denied.
MITCH MCCONNELL RIPPED BY CLUB FOR GROWTH, WHILE SCOTT GAINS ENDORSEMENT
“Mitch McConnell removed me from a Senate Committee for challenging him for Republican Leader. This is what happens when you challenge leadership in Washington,” Scott wrote in the email. “But that won’t stop me from pushing Senate Republican leaders to act like Republicans.”
Sen. Rick Scott is going after Mitch McConnell in fundraising emails, touting that he challenged McConnell for his leadership position. pic.twitter.com/fstBpwKaKg
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) February 26, 2023
Scott challenged McConnell unsuccessfully last fall to be the top Senate Republican, contending that the party needed fresh leadership. The two had been at odds over strategy during the midterm elections, and McConnell has publicly distanced himself from Scott’s 12-point Republican agenda plan, which Democrats have latched onto.
“I stand by my decision to challenge Mitch McConnell for Minority Leader, and I’ll continue to fight Washington insiders who make Washington work for them instead of you. Maybe they’ll take away my parking spot,” Scott added. His email was titled, “This is what happens when you challenge Mitch McConnell.”
McConnell has disputed Scott’s assertion that booting him and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who backed Scott’s challenge against McConnell, from the commerce panel was retribution. Rather, McConnell contends the move was necessary to make room for other senators.
“He could have traded in one of his permanent committees for Commerce and stayed on it. He had a temporary assignment,” McConnell said of Scott earlier this month. “There were others that wanted it, and I gave it to two other senators. No particular reprisal in mind. I have no animus toward Rick Scott at all.”
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Democrats have used Scott’s 12-point plan as political ammunition, claiming that Scott and his fellow Republicans are gunning to slash Medicare and Social Security — something Scott disputes.
Former President Donald Trump has waded into the Scott-McConnell feud, backing Scott in his quest for the Senate GOP leadership post last year, but he has zinged Scott for ambiguity on Social Security and Medicare funding. Trump has long seethed at McConnell since departing the White House.
