Congressional Republicans: Next coronavirus spending needs protections against 'frivolous lawsuits'

Congressional Republican leaders are making clear that they'll demand that any new coronavirus spending package include liability protections to shield employers from "frivolous lawsuits” related to the pandemic. 

"As the nation continues fighting this pandemic and parts of our economy begin to emerge from shutdown, Senate and House Republicans are united in our demand that healthcare workers, small businesses, and other Americans on the front lines of this fight must receive strong protections from frivolous lawsuits,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the chambers' top Republicans, said Thursday in a joint statement.

Democrats will likely try to block the effort, but McConnell and McCarthy have made clear that the inclusion of liability protections in the next recovery package will be “absolutely essential” to their party.

The GOP leaders fear that “opportunistic” litigators will take advantage of opportunity the pandemic has created for them to enrich themselves, to the detriment of struggling businesses and essential medical workers.

The McConnell- McCarthy statement continues: “We cannot let a second pandemic of opportunistic litigation enrich trial lawyers at the expense of Main Street and medical professionals. Senate and House Republicans agree these protections will be absolutely essential to future discussions surrounding recovery legislation."

Discussions surrounding the next round stimulus bill are just now taking meaningful shape, which means the issue likely become a sticking point in its passage.