SCOOP: "The House Freedom Caucus stands with President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson" amidst unprecedented Schumer Shutdown
Inside the historic phone call…
The House Freedom Caucus made history once again this week with its first ever national press call held in conjunction with a Speaker of the House, emphasizing the House GOP’s unity in the face of an unprecedented Schumer Shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) joined with Reps. Andy Harris (R., Md.), Scott Perry (R., Pa.), Ralph Norman (R., S.C.), Andrew Clyde (R., Ga.), Keith Self (R., Texas), and Mark Harris (R., N.C.) to push back against the Democrats’ “unrealistic and reckless spending demands.”
On the call, Harris said that the move was an opportunity to “show the unity and resolve of the Freedom Caucus in opposing the Democrats’ agenda.”
Some of the members on the call, like Self, had opposed Johnson for Speaker — the unified front showcased how House Republicans see no need to bail Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y) out as his namesake shutdown hurdles in to a second week.
The main issue the Republican lawmakers stressed was the Democrats refused to approve a continuing resolution, even though virtually every Democrat currently serving in Congress has voted for almost exactly the same provisions on multiple occasions. Democrats are also insisting on billions of dollars in new spending, which is another red line.
Anna Adamian, the communications director of the Freedom Caucus, said that the call “demonstrat[es] the unity and resolve of Republicans in opposing Democrats’ reckless attempt to hijack Washington.”
“Chuck Schumer has chosen to shut down the government and block paychecks for our military to appease radical left extremists with outrageous demands like giving healthcare to illegal aliens and extending failed Obamacare subsidies for insurance companies,” Adamian continued. “The House Freedom Caucus stands with President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson.”
Adamian’s remarks echo what Harris, the Chairman of the Freedom Caucus, told the Reporter earlier in the year in an interview, namely that “pound for pound, or on a per capita basis, we are the strongest caucus supporters of President Trump’s agenda.”