‘I Need to Ask My Staff’: House Republican Claims She Doesn’t Remember Voting For Major Bills When Confronted Live on Air
CBS News Miami’s Jim DeFede challenged Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) over the weekend on how she can boast of bringing money home to constituents from major legislative initiatives from President Joe Biden that she voted against.
“Last month you were at FIU and you presented a check for $650,000 to help small businesses at FIU. But you voted against the bill that gave the money that you then signed a check for and handed and had a photo op. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Right? You voted against that bill,” DeFede said to the Miami-based Republican.
“Right now, you have to give me more details. But I do know that every time I have an opportunity to bring money to my constituents, I do so. I just did $400,000. But look at what,” Salazar replied as DeFede interjected.
“You voted against, you voted against the CHIPS and Science Act, right?” he pressed.
“Listen, right now I need to I need to ask my staff. But what about when you have $40 million I have brought to this community? Aren’t you proud of me? Aren’t you proud of the $40 million?” Salazar replied, claiming not to remember her vote on the major piece of bipartisan legislation from 20022.
DeFede continued to press as Salazar tried to pivot to other legislation., “Aren’t you proud that I robbed the Dignity Act? Let’s talk about the Americas Act?”
“Wait, wait, wait, you say. Let me show, one second,” DeFede shot back, refusing to let Salazar off the hook, adding:
The money that you talk about. The $40 million that you bring back to the district. Sometimes that money comes from bills that you voted against. You voted against the CHIPS Act. And yet you praised the fact that the South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub is going to be started in Miami. Right.
You voted against the infrastructure bill, and you talk about all the money that comes back to the airport. So at the same time that you’re taking credit for the money that you bring back to the district in Washington, you’re voting against these projects on party-line votes.
“Listen, that was I think, last cycle, I cannot really remember right now. But just look, let’s look at the America Act, which is what,” Salazar replied, as DeFede cut her off, asking:
You don’t want to explain why you voted against this?
“I really cannot, I mean right now and I’m not trying to be a politician, there is so many bills that I’ve introduced,” Salazar replied.
“No, these are bills that you voted against,” DeFede noted.
“That I understand and but, it’s okay. Sometimes I vote and sometimes I don’t. But let’s look at the positive. Let’s look at the $40 million that I brought,” Salazar pleaded, looking to move on.
Watch the clip above via CBS Miami.
