Between falling into disfavor with President Trump and one of its founders being caught off guard in an interview on MSNBC, it looks like it's going to be a rough week for the Freedom Caucus. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, who appeared Tuesday on "Morning Joe" to discuss President Trump's failed healthcare bill, was asked first to explain why he opposes efforts by the federal government to get involved in paid family leave.
The problem with the interview is that paid family leave is MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski's pet issue, and Labrador was not prepared for the question.
It didn't go well for him.
"Well I just do think it's the government's role to give business more things to do and to pay for it. That is something that a business should decide and it's not for the government to be telling people about that," the congressman said.
Brzezinski's followed up with: "Do you think you would like to have paid family leave in your family? Do you think that would be important to perhaps your family moving forward in the best way possible?"
"It should be up to the businesses," Labrador reiterated, noting that he provided his employees with paid time off for their families when he ran a business.
"So you gave paid family leave in your company?" asked the cable news host.
"You gave leave but not paid?" Brzezinski asked.
"No. Yes. I paid for it, I just didn't have — I don't know what your definition of paid family leave," Labrador started to say.
Brzezinski's quipped, "Well, that would be you take leave and you're paid during that … leave."
Labrador repeated his initial point: That he simply doesn't want the government to force businesses to spend more.
