Chang writes: "If Jeff Flake is such a bold and independent thinker, he sure has an odd way of showing it!"
Senator Jeff Flake. (photo: Getty)
Jeff Flake Sells Out DACA Recipients to Provide the Crucial Vote for the Vile GOP Tax Bill
01 December 17
f Jeff Flake is such a bold and independent thinker, he sure has an odd way of showing it!
On Friday, the Republican senator from Arizona announced that he will vote for the Republican tax bill that is currently being shoved through the Senate despite the fact that no one knows what exactly they are voting on. Flake’s support was enough for Mitch McConnell to claim that the GOP had the votes to pass their plan (though, as we’ve learned with “having the votes” on health care repeal, it’s not over until it’s over. Call up your senators folks!)
Mitch McConnell: "We have the votes."
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 1, 2017
What did Flake get for his support you might ask?
Flake says he will vote for tax bill. Demanded "a firm commitment from the Senate Leadership and the administration to work with me on a growth-oriented legislative solution to enact fair and permanent protections for DACA recipients.”
— Elise Foley (@elisefoley) December 1, 2017
Which says nothing really re: timing.
That’s right, Flake got a “firm commitment” from the Senate leadership and the Trump administration to “work with” him on a “growth-oriented legislative solution” for DACA recipients. If it sounds like a bunch of nonsense to you, that’s because it is. I’m no “Deal Maker” but I would imagine if the Senate leadership really needs your vote—and you really wanted to do something for DACA recipients—you could probably secure something beyond this weak ass garbage.
WHAT DID FLAKE GET ON DACA?: WH aide Marc Short tells me he will be part of the conversation. ("Happy to include him".)
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) December 1, 2017
Me: Does that mean any agreement on timing (this year or no), substance?
Short: No, it is to include him in our talks.
Also, Republicans in the House made clear they have no inclination to go along with Flake.
I asked @GOPLeader if he thinks DACA needs to get done this month “I don’t think the solution for DACA -- I don’t see it out there right now. So I don’t see how you would get it done this month … DACA’s timeline is further out in March, you still have time to solve that problem"
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 1, 2017
Despite this very embarrassing move, Flake didn’t get played. He was probably going to vote for the bill anyways—he’s voted with Trump 90 percent of the time and he’s a Republican. What Flake really got from the GOP leadership was cover to say that he voted for the tax plan in the name of DACA recipients. That, my friends, is all it takes to assuage the conscience of a conservative.
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