Texas GOP Rep. Ted Poe's exit from the House Freedom Caucus after it helped sink the Republicans’ ObamaCare overhaul has created widespread uncertainty about the political future of the caucus and its roughly 35 other members. The picture emerging Monday appeared to be that caucus members realize that their future largely depends on fulfilling campaign promises to fully repeal and replace the 2010 health care law. Trump met several times with Freedom Caucus members in recent weeks, with a focus on winning support from group leader Rep. Mark Meadows, even inviting him to the White House and his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago. Poe also told Fox News Monday that he has discussed his departure with members of the Freedom Caucus, which pushed out House Speaker John Boehner in 2015, apparently for not being conservative enough. “Poe’s departure is a sign that the Freedom Caucus needs to shift gears into a legislative mode,” said David Payne, a Republican strategist and partner at Washington-based Vox Global.

Source: Fox News March 27, 2017 19:07 UTC