Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., resigned his membership Wednesday in the conservative House Freedom Caucus over what he called “many missteps [that] have made it counterproductive.”
McClintock said his resignation came after a series of strategy disagreements with fellow caucus members. His letter to the group cited three instances, including one in February in which conservatives resisted funding the Department of Homeland Security because of “Obama’s unlawful amnesty orders for illegal immigrants,” and combined with House Democrats to defeat a stopgap funding measure.
In May, the Freedom Caucus unsuccessfully combined forces with House Democrats to defeat trade legislation, he noted.
And third, McClintock said that last week, the group threatened to combine with House Democrats to defeat the resolution of disapproval on the Iran nuclear agreement. That resolution was eventually pulled when it became clear it couldn’t pass.
“Ironically, while Harry Reid and Senate Democrats blocked a vote on the resolution of disapproval in the Senate, the House Freedom Caucus leadership was instrumental in blocking its consideration in the House,” wrote McClintock.
McClintock also charged that the “House Freedom Caucus formally vowed to shut down the government over funding Planned Parenthood” last week.
McClintock said in his letter that while he has “opposed the public funding of abortions throughout my 29 years in public office … this tactic promises only to shield Senate Democrats from their responsibility for a government shutdown and to alienate the public.”
The House Freedom Caucus, which comprises over 40 members, decided last week to oppose any spending measure that will send government funds to Planned Parenthood, including a short-term or long-term spending bill.
“Given the appalling revelations surrounding Planned Parenthood, we cannot in good moral conscience vote to send taxpayer money to this organization while still fulfilling our duty to represent our constituents. We must therefore oppose any spending measure that contains funding for Planned Parenthood,” the group wrote.
McClintock wrote that the “willingness — indeed, an eagerness” of House Freedom Caucus members to work with “House Democrats on procedural motions … has thwarted vital conservative policy objectives and unwittingly become Nancy Pelosi’s tactical ally.”
