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Rep. Jared Moskowitz rips fellow Democrats for ‘procedural games’ on guns

Broward lawmaker was at funeral of shooting victim when colleagues tried to force debate
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs.
By
Published Feb. 21, 2018|Updated Feb. 21, 2018

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, criticized his fellow Democrats on Wednesday for their unsuccessful procedural move to force a House floor debate on an assault weapons ban.

Republicans blocked the maneuver, and news of it created a social media firestorm. CNN has repeatedly shown a clip of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, saying: "The motion is not adopted."

Moskowitz was one of five Democrats recorded as not voting on the motion. He was attending the funeral service for Peter Wang, one of the victims of last week's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

Moskowitz is a 1999 graduate of Stoneman Douglas and the school is in his district.

In a Times/Herald interview on Wednesday, Moskowitz said: "I didn't expect the Democratic leadership to expose one of their own members while I was at a funeral paying respects."

He also issued a statement.

“The decision to make a procedural motion to bring HB 219 to the floor was brought up with zero notice.  The majority of Democratic members of our caucus were not aware that any motion would be made and several were not present on the floor.
“I was in my district attending Peter Wang’s funeral. Peter was a hero. He held the door open so other students could survive and it cost him his life. I know in my heart I was where I needed to be yesterday. Paying my respects to a hero.
 
“I have been and will continue to work with Democrats and the Republican majority to pass a bill that addresses the tragedy in my hometown.
“Procedural games will not make policy. Only members from both parties working together on legislation will bring the gun safety changes we need to prevent this from ever happening again.”
Moskowitz’s statements prompted a response on Twitter from Rep. Amber Mariano, a freshman Republican from Hudson.

Moskowitz noted that the motion to bring the bill forward for consideration required a two-thirds vote, or 79 votes, and that there are 41 Democrats in the Florida House.
Up next:Parkland survivor David Hogg on conspiracy theories: ‘It’s sad’

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