Dem
47
GOP
53
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) rarely seems to make it through a week without controversy. She certainly didn't make it through this week without any, as yesterday the House Ethics Committee announced it is investigating her for having "engaged in improper reimbursement practices." She is accused of padding her requests for housing reimbursements by about $10,000.
Mace is clearly a publicity-obsessed show horse, to the point of it being a mania. She also very clearly has anger management problems, and there are voluminous stories about her abusive behavior towards those whom she feels are beneath her (which is pretty much everyone). Finally, this is not the first time she's been accused of playing fast and loose with money that is not hers.
Given that this is old hat for her, there's only one reason we find this story to be of interest. Mace has already announced her retirement from the House, as she is running for governor of South Carolina. She's also about as popular with her House colleagues as Ted Cruz is with his Senate colleagues. Finally, she's not much of a team player. Most of the current Republican conference, we would guess, would hold on to their seats for dear lives right now, even if they were ill (like Neal Dunn of Florida), or even if they'd prefer to head for the doors, because the GOP's margin is so thin. But Mace seems very much like the type who might actually quit, perhaps out of spite. And if she did, then we would inch even closer to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) possibly losing his gavel. We're not there yet, but there are enough wild cards (Mace, Marge Greene's former district, the Tony Gonzales mess, Dunn's health, etc.) that "there" is at least within view. (Z)