"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."  (Isaiah 10: 1-2)

As religious and spiritual leaders from diverse communities of faith, we are very concerned about the precarious state of our democracy and the plight of our people, especially the most vulnerable. 

 A moral rot has infected our democratic institutions: campaign donations prompt political favors, corporate lobbies hold secret meetings, and backroom deals stall legislation needed to feed hungry children, provide medicine and care for the sick; bills desperately needed by families struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. It is sadly obvious that in this environment of institutional degradation, power and wealth have become more important to many legislators than principles or the good of the nation.

 The politician standing at the center of this moral decay is none other than the current senator from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell. President Trump declared he would "drain the swamp," but Senator McConnell has vigorously defended the “swamp.” As long as McConnell is in power, the “swamp" is here to stay. 

 Now, with the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, McConnell's rush to fill her seat on the Supreme Court is both disrespectful of her wishes and completely hypocritical given his past statements and actions.  A Mitch McConnell Court immediately threatens health care for women, for people with preexisting conditions, and for many people who are between 18 and 26 years old.  The Court's long-term effect on our democracy would be devastating.

 From the perspective of our shared religious values, McConnell's entire career as a senator has been extremely problematic.  McConnell has always strongly opposed any kind of campaign finance reform, even versions offered by fellow Republicans, and now more than ever, big money buys politicians in favor of corporate interests.   McConnell has become the champion of massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, while opposing policies that would help the working people of Kentucky and the rest of the nation.  He opposes raising the minimum wage, opposes extending unemployment insurance benefits, opposes helping students refinance their student loan debts, opposes paycheck fairness for working women, opposes plans to cut drug prices, opposes the Affordable Care Act, which covers pre-existing conditions, opposes securing pensions for current and retired mine workers, and even opposes any increase in benefits for those suffering from black lung disease.  And he has a long history of supporting cuts to programs necessary to the well-being of the elderly and the poor: Social Security; Medicare; Medicaid.

Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is upon us, Senator McConnell again is helping the wealthy to the neglect of working men and women in Kentucky and throughout the U.S.  Certainly, McConnell holds responsibility for failing to provide an adequate response to the pandemic and the resulting economic devastation along with the tragic deaths of nearly 200,000 Americans.

 McConnell cut funds to the Center for Disease Control and snuck an extra tax break for the wealthy into the first COVID-19 relief bill – one that averages $1.6 million for each of 43,000 millionaires.  Now that we're in desperate need of a new relief bill, McConnell says there’s not enough money for housing support to prevent evictions and foreclosures, not enough for food assistance for hungry  families, hazard pay for essential workers, increases in Medicaid, and not enough for financial assistance for states to provide necessary public services, including safe schools for our children.

 The pattern here is tragically obvious:  Senator Mitch McConnell does not prioritize the needs of working people and economically struggling families.  Instead, he gives his full attention to the special interests that fund his campaigns, the big money that dominates our politics, and increased political power.  In fact, even as President Trump warns Americans about China, the McConnell family has made millions doing business with China.

Here are some of the things Kentucky cares about, but that Mitch McConnell does not:

·         COVID-19 relief adequate to the real needs of working people and struggling families in Kentucky and the nation;

·         equality for all people, whatever their skin color, religious background, gender identification, economic situation, or geographic location;

·         an end to systemic racism in a nation that seeks to live up to its values of “liberty and justice for all”;

·         healthcare that is affordable and accessible to all who need it;

·         accessible and affordable education and training for all who desire to improve their minds and their lives;

·         funds for infrastructure and investment in underserved communities;

·         protecting and expanding voting rights;

·         and an increase in the minimum wage.

 Given McConnell's record and priorities over the years, and the increasingly detrimental effect that he has had on our democratic institutions, we discourage anyone from voting for him.  Instead, we encourage the good people of Kentucky to prayerfully and seriously consider making a better choice, a choice that will help restore decency to Washington, protect democracy, and give priority to working people, and to economically struggling families in Kentucky and around the nation.  

Register to vote by October 5 via iwillvote.com. If you have been purged, you won’t find that out until you go to vote, and then it will be too late.  Check to make sure on iwillvote.com!

Praying for our country,

Religious leaders from Kentucky, please sign on to this letter at https://bit.ly/signnomitch