WASHINGTON _ House Democrats voted Thursday to quash a resolution condemning Bernie Sanders' recent comments that praised aspects of Fidel Castro's Cuba.
The proposal, by Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, had been aimed at forcing Democrats into a bind of either backing Sanders' positive remarks about Cuba or publicly rebuking the Democratic front-runner for president. But he was forced to attach his proposal to an unrelated bill sponsored by Rep. Donna Shalala, D-Fla., that bans flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Shalala and fellow Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell _ who are both facing competitive reelection races _ didn't participate in the vote that would have advanced Diaz-Balart's resolution. The resolution failed after 224 Democrats voted against it and 189 Republicans voted in favor of it.
