Republicans are scrambling for votes to bail out their reckless and “universally detested” healthcare repeal bill and, as happens, opportunistic politicians have seen their “opportunity to deal.” But instead of using his leverage to substantially benefit his constituents, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart got himself played.
According to the New York Times, Congressman Diaz Balart traded his tie-breaking “yes-vote” in the Budget Committee for little more than empty promises from President Trump.
To make matters worse, here’s what Diaz-Balart’s deal will cost for the residents of his own district. According to the Center for American Progress, as many as 55,000 residents could lose healthcare coverage under the Republican repeal bill and a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis showed a 60-year-old making $20,000 could lose up to $12,130, a 1266% tax increase.
“There’s no spinning this, Congressman Diaz-Balart’s weak political horse trading will cost tens of thousands of his own constituents access to healthcare, blow the roof off of others’ premiums, and slap an age tax on older South Floridians.” said DCCC spokesperson Cole Leiter. “But don’t kid yourself, Mario Diaz-Balart likely isn’t the only opportunistic South Florida politician itching to deal away his constituents’ livelihoods in exchange for Trump’s empty promises: Carlos Curbelo also voted for this bill despite what it would do to his constituents. We need to know what shady backroom deals were cut for his vote, and more importantly, he needs to come clean about those deals to the constituents he’s hurting.”