Republicans bare teeth over Georgia voting law

In a sign of a growing rift between conservatives and big businesses, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell lashed out at corporate America on Monday.

He told CEOS to 'stay out of politics' in the midst of a controversial new voting law in the state of Georgia.

The new law strengthens I.D. requirements for absentee ballots, and makes it a crime to offer food or water to voters waiting in line.

It's been criticised as restricting votes among minorities and the poor.

Big companies like Coca-Cola and Delta came out with strong statements against the law.

McConnell on Monday told a news conference in his home state of Kentucky:

"Corporations will invite serious consequences if they become a vehicle for far-left mobs to hijack our country from outside the constitutional order."

The Republican governor of Texas Greg Abbott also hit out at Major League Baseball for their involvement in the debate.

Abbot said Monday he would not throw out the ceremonial opening pitch at the Texas Rangers' home game, nor participate in any event by the MLB, after it pulled its July All-Star game out of Atlanta in protest.

The conservative party has had the backing of big business for decades, but ties began fraying under Donald Trump's administration.

The party's focus on voting restrictions also comes in direct conflict with businesses embracing diversity as key to their work force and customer base.