Florida Republican admits her husband teases that she's 'full of hot air'

Allegations are often made that politicians are all full of hot air, an idiom alleging they talk a lot without actually saying anything of value. One Florida Republican is hearing that criticism from her own husband.

In a 2017 ranking from C-SPAN on the number of times an elected official speaks on the floor of Congress, it was discovered Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) won fourth place, with 81 speeches over the year. The Miami Herald noticed a tweet graciously accepting the award, in which the retiring official cited a joking remark her husband often makes.

"Dexter says I’m full of hot air but now he has proof!" Ros-Lehtinen said.

“I enjoy speaking in the Chamber on local issues because it informs the constituents of important people and topics in our community,” Ros-Lehtinen told the Herald via email. “My brief remarks also tell my Congressional colleagues of interesting activities in my hometown and international topics that should concern all of us.”

She noted that her husband jokes about her remarks because they aren't exactly "earth shaking."

Ros-Lehtinen announced her retirement in April after spending more than 35 years in public office.

Rep. Glenn "G.T." Thompson (R-PA) won first place with Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX) coming in second for the "hot air" award.