A member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus is leaving the group after it opposed a major bill to gut Obamacare.
Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, has left the group due to conflicts over the group’s strategy on the American Health Care Act, which was pulled right before a scheduled vote on Friday because of opposition from caucus members and moderates.
“I have resigned from the House Freedom Caucus,” Poe said in a statement. “In order to deliver on the conservative agenda we have promised the American people for eight years, we must come together to find solutions to move this country forward. Saying no is easy, leading is hard, but that is what we were elected to do. Leaving this caucus will allow me to be a more effective Member of Congress and advocate for the people of Texas. It is time to lead.”
Poe had planned to vote yes for the bill, which was pushed hard by President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan. But the bill was scuttled after members in the caucus called for it to go further in dismantling Obamacare and moderates became spooked about the 24 million who could lose insurance over the next decade under the bill.
Poe appeared to criticize his colleagues on Friday shortly after the bill as pulled.
“Some only want to be the party of ‘no’ & would’ve voted against the 10 commandments,” Poe tweeted.
Thx for your leadership @realDonaldTrump @SpeakerRyan Some only want to be the party of ‘no’ & would’ve voted against the 10 commandments
— Ted Poe (@JudgeTedPoe) March 24, 2017
President Trump blamed the caucus in part for the bill’s defeat, even though a sizable number of moderates had also defected.
“Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club for Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!” the president tweeted.
Poe joined several caucus members supporting the bill, including Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas.
