House Freedom Caucus co-founder Rep. Jim Jordan tried Sunday to end the blame being cast upon his group and others for Republicans failed ObamaCare overhaul bill, saying, Lets get to work.
Instead of doing the blame game, lets get to work, Jordan, R-Ohio, said on Fox News Sunday. Lets do the responsible thing. Lets get back to work and do what we told the voters we were going to do.
Much of the blame has been directed at the conservative group and its roughly 30 members, after House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday realized he didnt have enough support for the bill in the GOP-led chamber and canceled the final vote on Friday.
However, practically everybody in official Washington is being accused of being at fault -- from the caucus for its ideological purity, to Ryan for his inability to get the votes to President Trump for failing to deliver with his vaunted deal- making skills.
Ryan purportedly needed about 20 more votes, mostly from Freedom Caucus members and a handful of GOP House moderates.
The rift has apparently led Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, to resign from the caucus.
Fox News has learned that Poe on Sunday informed Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., about his resignation.
Poe intended to vote in favor of the bill and last week personally told Trump last week that he would support the measure.
None of the chambers 193 Democrats supported dismantling President Obamas signature 2010 health care law, which is struggling under increasing costs and fewer insurance policy choices for Americans.
Jordan argued Sunday that the bill lost on its shortcomings, not over ideology, with just 17 percent of Americans approving of the measure, crafted by Ryan, R- Wis., and his leadership team.
Maybe the fact that we opposed it did the country a favor because this bill didnt repeal ObamCare, he said. This bill didnt do what we told the American people we were going to do.
He argued fiscal conservatives want a bill that brings back affordable insurance for their voters and all Americans through a market-based, not government-run, approach.
Not some one-size-fits-all mandate from Washington, said Jordan, whose caucus backed a plan by South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, both Republicans. Thats what our plan would have accomplished.
He also made clear that conservatives will hold Trump and Ryan to the same standards moving forward on such issues of tax reform and building the U.S.- Mexico border wall.
Lets make sure we actually secure the border, build the wall, like we told the American people we were going to, he said. Thats what the Freedom Caucus was created to do -- fight for those simple principles.
Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
There is to much money to be skimmed, now that obama isn't there to veto any repeal legislation the RINOs, the Democrats and the rest have to protect their money, their power by not 'agreeing' on any one repeal method.
Folks, you are going t have obamacare till the ruling political class has squeezed the last dollar out of you, for that's all your good to them for.
[Jim Jordans] power, though, seems to have reached a tipping point. An increasing number of Jordans Republican House colleagues are fed up with his tactics. In the case of the impeachment hearing, it gave him and his allies another cathartic moment .but the exercise mostly just angered other Republicans
You have the tail wagging the dog, a small group of 40 people basically dictating to leadership: This is what we will or will not allow you to do, said one senior Republican allied with House GOP leadership. Its an inversion of political influence. 1
Jordan stands by the groups damn-the-torpedoes approach 1
"Freedom Caucus' Jordan: End ObamaCare blaming, Lets get to work
On what?
When Trump tried to placate the Freedom Caucus, he lost boatloads of moderate Republicans. I can't imagine the bloodshed if the Freedom Caucus writes the bill.
They'll end up with 30 votes. But, dammit, they'll hold their heads high!
"Freedom Caucus' Jordan: End ObamaCare blaming, Lets get to work
On what?
When Trump tried to placate the Freedom Caucus, he lost boatloads of moderate Republicans. I can't imagine the bloodshed if the Freedom Caucus writes the bill.
They'll end up with 30 votes. But, dammit, they'll hold their heads high!
Yes Sir.
Damn the torpedoes is a remark I read about his self-serving and non- compromising attitude.