Barrasso Falsely Claims House Dem Voted For Health Care Bill As Part Of Sweetheart Deal (VIDEO)

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
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It’s hardly a secret that Republicans are trying to characterize the just-passed health care bill as a product of a bunch of secret, shady backroom deals–the “Cornhusker Kickback,” the “Louisiana Purchase,” the “Gator-Aid,” and so on. But this morning on Fox News, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) came up with a new one–that just happens to be completely false.

“In Utah, a member from Utah that voted on the bill, he was against it and then he was for it. What a coincidence that his brother just got named to be a federal judge,” Barrasso said.

Barrasso’s referring to Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), whose highly qualified brother Scott was indeed nominated recently to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. But here’s the thing: Matheson voted no.

He voted no on the House health care bill in November. He voted no on the Senate bill on Sunday. And he even voted against the health care reconciliation bill, which will strip it of most of the deals Republicans are complaining about.

Conservatives first insinuated Scott Matheson’s nomination might have been an act of horse-trading earlier this month, and it seems likely that many, including Barrasso, decided that Jim Matheson’s yes vote was a fait accompli.

You can see video below.

Late Update: Barrasso called Matheson to apologize.

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