But Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), leader of the conservative and rebellious House Freedom Caucus that led the fight against the bill, was uncharacteristically quiet, downplaying his political victory and mulling over the next move. But after helping defeat the GOP healthcare overhaul, the Freedom Caucus has roared back to relevance as a political power in the Trump era. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday the administration’s strategy and future alliances would “depend on the legislation." The White House also appears to have gained some experience in dealing with the bloc. The caucus has never been popular among rank-and-file Republicans, and slipped from prominence after they forced Boehner into early retirement in late 2015.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 28, 2017 10:01 UTC