Jeffry Lane Flake
Flake served one Senate term (2013-2019). He chose not to seek re-election in October 2017, citing 'the present coarseness of our national politics.' This profile grades his single Senate term — one of the more clearly closed records in the directory.
Jeffry Lane Flake
- among Republican senators12th of 60
- among all senators26th of 115
All tracked promises
Pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Flake co-authored the Gang of Eight S.744 bill, which passed the Senate 68-32 on June 27, 2013. Speaker Boehner declined to bring it to a House floor vote and it died in the 113th Congress. No subsequent comprehensive bill advanced during Flake's term.
Reduce earmarks and federal spending discipline.
Flake maintained his long-standing anti-earmark record. He released annual 'Wastebook' reports cataloging spending he opposed and voted no on multiple omnibus packages including the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.
Vote to confirm well-qualified conservative judges.
Flake voted yes on Gorsuch (April 7, 2017) and Kavanaugh (Oct 6, 2018, after his famous 'further FBI investigation' demand the prior week). He voted to confirm dozens of Trump circuit-court nominees.
Restore congressional oversight of trade authority.
Flake introduced multiple resolutions to disapprove Trump's Section 232 tariffs, but none reached a floor vote during his term. The Bicameral Congressional Trade Authority Act (2018) did not advance.
Repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Flake voted yes on the 'skinny repeal' amendment (failed 49-51, July 28, 2017). The ACA remained in force at end-of-term despite the TCJA zeroing the mandate penalty.
Pass meaningful tax reform.
Flake voted yes on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Pub.L. 115-97), which passed the Senate 51-48 on Dec 20, 2017.
Preserve federal lands and parks.
Flake supported the John D. Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Pub.L. 116-9), which was negotiated during the 115th Congress and signed March 12, 2019. He did not publicly oppose the Bears Ears/Grand Staircase reductions of Dec 2017.
Restore civil discourse and traditional Senate norms.
Flake delivered the high-profile 'present coarseness' floor speech announcing retirement (Oct 24, 2017). He occasionally crossed Trump publicly but supported most Trump nominees and the elimination of the SCOTUS filibuster (April 2017).
Address the federal deficit and debt.
The federal deficit rose from $585B in FY2016 to $984B in FY2019. The TCJA Flake supported is estimated by CBO to have added $1.9T to debt over a decade. He voted no on the FY2018 omnibus but the trajectory of debt accelerated through his term.
Defend the rule of law and Special Counsel Mueller investigation.
Flake co-sponsored the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act (S.2644), forcing Senate Judiciary Committee passage 14-7 on April 26, 2018. He publicly threatened to block judicial nominations until McConnell allowed a floor vote on the bill, though the floor vote never occurred.
Want the deep-dive book on Flake?
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