Ted Poe Quits House Freedom Caucus Over Health Care

U.S. Rep Ted Poe, a Republican from Humble, Texas, announced his resignation Sunday from the House Freedom Caucus after the ultra-conservative group opposed the Republican-backed legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Poe, who has stumped for the repeal of Obamacare in recent years, chided the House Freedom Caucus for its failure to back the bill and deliver on the agenda that conservative leaders had promised. (Sign up for Patch’s daily newsletter for your neighborhood.)

“Saying no is easy, leading is hard, but that is what we were elected to do,” Poe said in a prepared statement. “Leaving this caucus will allow me to be a more effective Member of Congress and advocate for the people of Texas.”

Poe’s resignation came just days after he expressed support for President Donald Trump’s replacement health care bill, known as the American Health Care Act, and days after House Republicans were forced to pull the bill from consideration.

The Freedom Caucus, which includes about 30 House Republicans, four of whom are from Texas, has long opposed the Obamacare plan and has also expressed reservations with Trump’s plan, citing that it fails to adequately reduce insurance premiums.

Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan met with key members of the caucus last week hoping to make enough concessions to appease Freedom Caucus conservatives, especially with House Democrats expected to vote along party lines.

The hangup with caucus members was that the Trump administration was holding onto key components of Obamacare, such as the requirement to insure patients with preexisting conditions, which Trump said he intends to keep in the new plan.

Image: US Rep. Ted Poe

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