The conservative House Freedom Caucus might lose another member after facing blame from some fellow Republicans for last week’s failure to pass the House leadership's bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Two days after Texas Rep. Ted Poe (R) left the Freedom Caucus, fellow Texas Rep. Brian Babin (R) wouldn't rule out leaving the group himself during an interview with The Hill Tuesday.
“It’s something that will be a decision in the future, OK?” Babin said when pressed on whether he’s considering leaving the group of conservative hard- liners.
Babin had planned to vote for the GOP leadership’s bill, titled the American Health Care Act, following personal appeals from President Trump. The leadership's inclusion of a provision eliminating ObamaCare's minimum insurance coverage requirements, an attempt to win over the Freedom Caucus, had been "sufficient" enough to sway his vote.
Poe left the Freedom Caucus on Sunday, saying the group was too rigid during the negotiations with GOP leaders and Trump.
"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 in an interview with CNN’s “New Day” on Monday.
"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.
Babin, a former dentist, expressed disappointment that the House GOP wasn’t able to move legislation to fulfill a campaign pledge made by Trump and the rest of the party.
“I worked very hard to get President Trump elected,” Babin said. “And listen, we have a president that will sign our legislation now. So we need to support that agenda.”
“We’re looking at the whole picture of what my district wants, what the American people believe needs to happen. And I can tell you that as a healthcare provider myself, I campaigned very hard to repeal ObamaCare. We’re going to make it happen,” he said.
Frustration with the Freedom Caucus has boiled over in recent days among Republicans who have long harbored impatience with the hard-liners' demands.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) said over the weekend that Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) had "betrayed Trump and America and supported Pelosi and Dems to protect Obamacare."
Trump also took aim at the Freedom Caucus from his Twitter account.
"Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!" Trump tweeted on Sunday.
