GOP Rep. Bluntly Called Out For Taking Credit For Bills She Voted Against In Tense Live Interview

Florida Republican Representative Maria Salazar tries to portray herself as a Congressional representative who reliably delivers funding to her district, but during one recent media interview, things did not quite go as planned.

As it happens, Salazar voted against the very bill that provides the federal funding she's trying to take credit for delivering, and CBS News Miami host Jim DeFede called her out on her hypocrisy during a live broadcast.

Critics often refer to the trend of Republicans touting local funding that results from legislation they voted against as "Vote no, take the dough."

Back in December Salazar touted a new program in conjunction with Florida International University that helped small businesses and presented an oversized check for $650,000 at an event.

"I’m proud to have secured funding that will create hundreds of jobs and help dozens of businesses grow," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter) accompanied by photo ops of her perceived good deed.

Yet, public records showed that the GOP Congresswoman voted against the bill, and DeFede was not going to let that fact slide.

The host of CBS's Facing South Florida confronted Salazar on her deception and asked:

“You voted against the bill that gave the money that you then signed a check for and handed and had a photo op."

"The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, right?”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill that provided funding for domestic and foreign policy priorities as well as provisions including advanced transportation research, and health care.

Democratic President Joe Biden signed the Act into law on December 29, 2022, after it was passed by Congress on December 23.

Salazar feigned ignorance and replied:

“Right now, you have to give me more details."

She tried to pivot away from the subject, saying:

"But I do know that every time I have an opportunity to bring money to my constituents, I do so."

"I just did $400,000, but look—," she continued before being cut off by DeFede.

“But you voted against the CHIPS and Science Act, right?” he asked, referring to the bipartisan federal statute signed by Biden on August 9, 2022, that allowed for the strengthening of domestic supply chain resilience and had provisions supporting small businesses across the country.

Salazar again didn't recall how she voted and said she needed "to ask my staff."

She added:

"Why don’t we look at the $40 million that I have brought to this community."

"Aren’t you proud of me?”

You can watch the awkward interview here.

DeFede continued grilling Salazar after she repeatedly asked him to focus on her alleged accomplishments.

He said:

"The money that you talk about—the $40 million that you bring back to the district—sometimes that money comes from bills that you voted against.”

"You voted against the CHIPS Act, yet you praise the fact that South Florida Climate Resilience Tech Hub is gonna get started in Miami, right?"

"You voted against the Infrastructure [Investment and Jobs] bill, and you talk about all the money that comes back to [Miami International] airport."

“So, at the same time that you’re taking credit for the money that you bring back to the district, in Washington, you’re voting against these projects on party-line votes."

Salazar chalked her fuzzy memory up to the fact that she voted on the mentioned bills "from the last cycle," an excuse that wasn't good enough for DeFede.

“But just look at the Americas Act, which is what I’m—” she said and was once again cut off by her interviewer.

DeFede explained what was really happening here by asking:

"So you don’t want to explain why you voted against things?”

She answered:

“I really cannot, I mean, right now, and I’m not trying to be a politician, there’s so many bills that I’ve introduced that I know that many of them.”

Before she could continue, DeFede jumped in again and asserted:

“But these are bills you voted against."

Salazar said:

“I understand. But it’s, it’s—Okay. Sometimes I vote and sometimes I don’t."

DeFede continued laying into the Florida Congresswoman as she spoke over him and suggested they both "look at the positive."

But social media users praised DeFede for his tireless effort to expose Salazar's hypocrisy.

Business Insider indicated Salazar was among 226 lawmakers who chose to vote by proxy just days before Christmas last year and had fellow Florida GOP Representative Neal Dunn vote "no" on her behalf.

So, while she didn't vote against the Consolidated Appropriations Act in person, she admitted to opposing the bill.

She told the media outlet:

"I voted against the Omnibus because Congressional Democrats, who had full control of Congress at the time, decided to advance reckless spending for an already bloated federal government."

Keep fighting the good fight, Jim.