McConnell directs Cornyn to work with Democrats on gun legislation
Oriana Gonzalez
 Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. John Cornyn in 2018. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has directed Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to work with Democratic lawmakers on a "bipartisan solution" to gun violence.
Driving the news: McConnell told CNN he "encouraged" Cornyn to work with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) "and others who are interested in trying to get an outcome that's directly related to the problem."
Between the lines: Senate Democrats had already expressed interest in having Cornyn as the point of contact for talks, given the shooting happened in his state, Axios' Alayna Treene reports.
Cornyn has shown compassion and willingness to work with Democrats on similar issues before.The big picture: Senate lawmakers on both sides held small-group discussions to gauge bipartisan support for the passage of bills following the shooting at a Texas elementary school in which a gunman killed 19 kids and two adults.
Be smart: Any sort of gun-related legislation would need 60 votes to pass the Senate.
The latest: Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill that would have created new federal offices focused on domestic terrorism.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) had scheduled a vote on the bill in response to a shooting in Buffalo, New York, that resulted in the deaths of 10 Black people.
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