Granddaughter’s wedding. He’d have voted for cloture, I’m sure
As SOL says this effort was doomed, but I’d have liked as many nays as possible. I understand though, weddings are scheduled way in advance. I presume Flake would have been there was a chance at success. Still, this isn’t a good time to be away from your post. I don’t know.
I agree, it was DOA in the Senate, but if all these Republicans who “pledged” they would fight to repeal Obamacare were serious, the cloture vote would have prevailed by a vote of 55 YEA - 43 NAY (that’s along party lines with Flake and Hatch absent, the two Indy’s voting with the RATs, and ardent socialists who claim to be Republicans like Kirk and Murkowski having an epiphany and voting with us).
Of course, the reality is we couldn’t even muster 20 votes against ending debate (let alone 43), because most of the Republicans in the Senate are spineless, including many of the “conservatives” (Coburn, Burr, etc.)