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Very few Republican senators decided it was important they face their constituents this July 4th, as they're considering legislation that could have a direct and horrible impact on millions of them. Like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) who declined to face his voters because they would "heckle and scream at me." Yes, Rubio is a snowflake. And not the only one.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did appear in semi-public, navigating through protests to get to a meeting with Hardin County Republicans, which was closed to the general public. Ted Cruz (TX) appeared at an event sponsored by the Koch group, Concerned Veterans for America, which required people register in advance. Only Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Dean Heller (NV) showed up in actual holiday parades, all in small or remote towns. And all came out of them apparently hearing what they wanted to hear from constituents.
"There was only one issue. That's unusual. It's usually a wide range of issues," Collins said in an interview after the parade. "I heard, over and over again, encouragement for my stand against the current version of the Senate and House health-care bills. People were thanking me, over and over again. 'Thank you, Susan!' 'Stay strong, Susan!' " […]
"Glad I could help them get away from the east coast and to one of the most beautiful parts of NV," Heller tweeted at reporters after the Ely parade. […]
"Most people don't ask 'for or against,' " she said. "They just say, 'Make sure you're taking care of our interests.' In fairness for those that do the 'for or against,' everybody is pretty much [saying] they don't think this is good for us."
All we need is three Republican senators to block Trumpcare. If you have a GOP senator, we need you to call their office at (202) 224-3121. Demand that they put their constituents above their party. After the call, tell us how the call went.
So Collins basked in the adulation of grateful constituents for standing up to McConnell on Trumpcare. Heller went to tiny Ely, definite Trump territory, where he didn't have to talk about Trumpcare there or afterward with reporters. And Murkowski? She says she got affirmation of her fence-sitting. What she heard from her constituents is just what she's doing: look out for Alaska. In other words, hold out on her vote until McConnell piles on the goodies for her state.
You can't glean a lot out of this that's more informative than what we already knew—Collins is a pretty solid "no" on Trumpcare. Heller apparently doesn't want to talk about this unless he's got his buddy, Gov. Brian Sandoval, standing by to give him back-up. Murkowski is still holding out for more. But the grassroots actions on Trumpcare aren't going to be stopping because the holiday is over—they're still home and they still need to hear from us.