Video is HERE.
Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas), who resigned Sunday from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, criticized the group Monday for its constant opposition.
"The Freedom Caucus has always been the opposition caucus and I guess the Democrats, and now, when we are in the majority, it continues to be the opposition caucus against anything in the Republican Party," Poe said on CNN's "New Day."
"And, we had not been included in the past, but we were included in the healthcare replacement bill."
Poe said the group spent more than an hour with President Trump and members of the administration talking and making compromises.
"Compromises were made. Things were added to the bill based on the input of the Freedom Caucus, but then at the end of the day, no, it was easier to vote no, and so I'm angry about that," Poe said. "I think it's time that we lead and continue not to say no on everything that takes place when bills come forward in the House of Representatives."
Poe said he doesn't think there was anything that could have been added to the GOP healthcare bill that would have resulted in the Freedom Caucus supporting it.
"There's some members of the Freedom Caucus, they'd vote no against the Ten Commandments if it came up for a vote," Poe said.
"And so I think it's time that the Freedom Caucus work together with other members of the Republican Party, have input, which we did with the speaker, the president of the United States, and then at the end of the day, compromise to get something done."
Poe said he was going to vote in support of the GOP healthcare bill — which was pulled last week amid dwindling support among Republicans — even though it was not a "perfect bill."
"It's a start in moving us in a different direction to have more input into healthcare," Poe said. "There were some good things in it. No, it was not perfect, but I was ready to vote yes because everybody had an input in the Republican Party and yet, some would continue to say, 'I'm not going to vote for the bill.'"
Poe said Sunday his decision to leave the Freedom Caucus will help him to better serve his constituents. He called for the party to come together and "find solutions to move this country forward."
