Friday, May 5, 2017

You’re Next

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) has already decided to retire, but these guys need to be encouraged to follow suit, voluntarily or not.

Miami Herald:

Miami Republican Reps. Carlos Curbelo and Mario Diaz-Balart voted Thursday for the American Health Care Act, the House GOP’s controversial proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act.

Both congressmen had refused to divulge their positions on the legislation ahead of the high-profile vote. Their districts have among the highest Obamacare enrollment rates in the country; Curbelo in particular is politically vulnerable in the Democratic-leaning 26th district.

[…]

His spokeswoman said Curbelo was making a “game-time decision” on the vote. But moments after he voted yes, his office released pre-taped video statements in English and Spanish explaining his decision. His staff later said Curbelo prepared two sets of statements to be able to provide an immediate explanation of his decision once he made it.

If you have to explain it — and hedge your bet — you’re doing it wrong.  With a good opponent and righteous anger at him for being a sell-out to the rich and Cheeto’d, he’ll be selling cars in January 2019.

Curbelo and Diaz-Balart’s local colleague, Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who announced her retirement from Congress earlier this week, voted no, as she had promised. She was the only Florida Republican to do so, along with all Florida Democrats.

Good for her.