Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), who has emerged as an outspoken conservative voice among GOP freshmen, cast a surprising vote last week against a bill to scrap part of the 2010 healthcare overhaul. The legislation would repeal $100 million in funding for the construction of school-based health centers. West was one of just four Republicans to vote against the measure, which passed 235-191.
His lame excuse?
West spokeswoman Angela Sachitano said in an email that the congressman “believes there are bigger funding issues to be focusing on right now including the numerous developments in the Middle East, concerning Pakistan and whether there is a link to [Osama bin Laden] and the recent unity agreement with the [Palestinian Authority] and Fatah and Hamas."
He also questioned the House’s continued efforts to dismantle the healthcare law on a piecemeal basis, she said.
“He voted to repeal Obamacare, and it was dead on arrival in the Senate,” Sachitano said. “He questions what the goal is of chipping away like this if it’s almost certain that the Senate is not going to take it up.”
It's not like it would have taken Rep. West more time to vote Yes than to vote No, so the "bigger issues to be focusing on" line is pretty weak. As for his opposition to the GOP's strategy, it's one thing to think that strategy is going to fail, it's quite another thing to vote against (what should ostensibly be) your own position on a bill because the Senate is going to block it, or because the White House is going to veto it.
Coming from a so-called Tea Party congressman who's also voted to renew key provisions of the unconstitutional Patriot Act, Allen West's record is looking more and more disturbing, and less and less Tea Party by the minute.
Hat tip: Left Coast Rebel, via Rational Nation USA, via Memeorandum.
Wes Messamore,
Editor in Chief, THL
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