Team Cruz Fires at Rubio for Skipping 18 Defense Bill Votes

COLUMBIA, South Carolina — The campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued a blistering rebuke at Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), the establishment-backed non-conservative frontrunner here in South Carolina, after it has come to light Rubio repeatedly skipped vote after vote after vote on important bills related to national security and defense policy.

Rubio skipped more than 15 votes on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over the course of 2015 so he could campaign for president. In fact, the total number of defense bill votes Rubio skipped in 2015 was 18 votes—far more than anyone else in the U.S. Senate.

On June 4, 2015, for instance, Rubio skipped three votes relating to amendments that strengthened the national security elements of the NDAA. One amendment he skipped voting for, which passed without his support, came from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and provided “for the stationing of C-130 H aircraft avionics previously modified by the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) in support of daily training and contingency requirements for Airborne and Special Operations Forces.”

Another amendment he skipped voting on came from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and would have revised “the definition of spouse for purposes of veterans benefits in recognition of new State definitions of spouse.” The amendment failed without Rubio being there.

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