Flip Flop Five break promises, take cash

The Flip Flop Five, a group of freshmen House Democrats who first supported, then opposed, a Republican-backed measure to deny federal benefits to illegal aliens, received a combined $646681 in political contributions from the leadership and senior Democrats who pressured them to change their votes on the House floor last week, research by the Majority Accountability Project (www.majorityap.com) has found.

And in doing so, each broke a pledge they made to voters last fall.

On Thursday, House Republicans attempted to amend an agriculture spending bill to prevent any taxpayer dollars from being spent on illegal aliens, including government benefits such as housing and food stamps. According to several reports, Republicans were successful in that effort, but were denied a legislative victory through an embarrassing and unprecedented chain of events orchestrated by Democrat leadership.

Republicans accused Democrat leaders of “strong arm(ing)” vulnerable members to vote against the GOP, even though all five freshmen Democrats vowed last year to get tough on illegal immigration. Federal Elections Commission (FEC) records show those vulnerable members rely heavily on their leaders for financial support, making them especially susceptible to the “heavy handed tactics” reportedly employed.

According to the Capitol Hill publication Congressional Quarterly, “floor confusion arose when, with the tally tied at 214-214, two politically vulnerable Democrats, Nick Lampson of Texas and Harry Mitchell of Arizona, went to the well of the chamber to switch their votes to ‘no’.”

Lampson has received more than $114,000 since the beginning of the year from Democrat leaders such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Whip James Clyburn and others. Mitchell has received at least $94,300 from those same sources.

Despite Lampson and Mitchell changing their votes, CQ reported, Democrats still lost.

“As soon as the gavel came down,” the article continued, “the scoreboard registered (Florida Republican) Mario Diaz-Balart’s vote, pushing the tally to 215-213. The scoreboard showed those numbers and the word ‘FINAL’.”

“Within a minute or so,” CQ reported, “a flurry of post-gavel vote switches by Reps. Zach Space of Ohio, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Jerry McNerney of California — resulted in a 212-216 outcome.”

Those three Democrats received a whopping $438,373 from their leadership and senior Democrats. Gillibrand led the pack with $159267 in contributions. McNerney followed close behind, reporting $153906, while Space received $125200.

The fact the three changed their votes after Republicans had already won has created a firestorm of controversy. Hoyer apologized to Republicans for the way Democrats managed the vote, and a special committee, complete with subpoena power, will conduct a formal investigation.

Equally problematic for the five freshman is the fact they are now on record supporting taxpayer-subsidized benefits for illegal aliens. Lampson, Mitchell, Gillibrand, McNerney and Space all vowed last year to crack down on illegal immigrants.