Fast forward to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic meltdown, and the Republican reaction has been dramatically different. Republicans have fallen in line behind three rescue packages, including a giant $2 trillion bill that was championed by the Senate’s top Republican, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and that passed there unanimously. Mr. McConnell this week is leading a charge to add on $250 billion in funds for more small-business loans, many of which will be forgiven in the end. Meanwhile, a Republican president, Donald Trump, is cheerleading for an additional $2 trillion in stimulus spending after that.
