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Wasserman-Schultz: GOP Faces Consequences After Gun Vote

Deborah Acosta
/
WLRN / The Miami Herald

It's been a busy week in Washington, D.C.

As lawmakers react to the Boston Marathon bombings, parts of the Capitol had to be evacuated after suspicious letters addressed to U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and President Barack Obama were intercepted at mail screening facilities.

While dealing with that scare, members of Congress are getting their first look at a proposal for immigration reform put forth by the so-called "Gang of Eight" Senators including Florida's freshman Republican Marco Rubio.

Meanwhile, proponents of gun control are re-thinking their approach after the Senate voted Wednesday to block reform, including a bipartisan plan to broaden background checks for gun buyers and Democratic proposals to ban assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines.

Democrats in Congress are reacting angrily to the Senate's rejection of the bipartisan plan, which was endorsed by President Obama.

The president called the bill's defeat "shameful" but added that efforts to pass tighter gun controls at the national level would not end.

Broward-based Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Weston) is chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She shares the president's frustration, citing recent polls showing that most Americans and Floridians favor background checks.

 "For Senators to cast votes against an issue that more than 90% of Americans support is irresponsible and is going to ensure that fewer people are safe from harm in the future."

Wasserman-Schultz believes there will be electoral consequences for Republicans who shot down the legislation.

On the immigration, the jury is still out as the entire Congress begins to digest the latest plan. Wasserman-Schultz is encouraged but must wade through the details, especially as they pertain to immigrant-rich South Florida.

“It’s the gateway to Latin America. We’re going to need to make sure that this is real progress,” she said.

On the issue of federal Medicaid expansion, Wasserman-Schultz ripped into the Florida House of Representatives.

 “What we’re dealing with here is an entrenched group of Tea Party extremists that are dominating the Florida House, ” she said.

After a busy week in D.C., the five-term congresswoman will return home to host her annual Small Business Workshop on Saturday, April 20, at the Broward County Convention Center. The event provides marketing, management and financial guidance to small business owners and those interested in starting a business.

The workshop is free, and you can sign up here.

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