Fmr. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) Gets Disinvited To Ways & Means Climate Hearing
The Ways and Means Committee yanked an invitation for former GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo to testify at a hearing next week after other Democrats became enraged that the panel was offering a prized platform to a longtime foe.
Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) on Friday officially rescinded the invititation to Curbelo — who was invited by Democrats and slated to testify about climate change — after facing widespread pressure throughout the caucus, including from leadership.
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The issue started boiling up in the caucus earlier this week after word spread among the rank and file that Democrats on the committee had asked Curbelo to testify. The news stunned and infuriated members of the Hispanic caucus, including Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), a member of Ways and Means and a former CHC chair. The DCCC and other Democrats also objected, saying privately that it was ridiculous for the Democratic members of the panel to give Curbelo such an opportunity when he has yet to rule out a rematch for his old seat.
Mucarsel-Powell was incensed, according to sources, and even attempted to approach Neal on the floor Thursday to talk about it. Instead, the freshman Democrat accidentally went up to Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, mistaking him for Neal, according to a Democratic aide. Democrats spent millions of dollars trying to oust Curbelo after he flipped the seat in 2014, falling short in 2016 before Mucarsel-Powell successfully won back the district last year. But the Miami-area swing seat is still a vulnerable district for Democrats and Curbelo would be a strong challenger.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/10/carlos-curbelo-testify-ways-means-1317597
