Texas U.S. Rep. Ted Poe quit the conservative House Freedom Caucus on Sunday after lawmakers failed to pass a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act two days before.
Poe had prepared to vote for the Republican American Health Care Act, which was ultimately pulled from the House floor when Republicans learned they did not have enough votes to pass it, reported Fox News. Poe said he was unhappy with the caucus opposition to the bill.
"To deliver on the conservative agenda we have promised the American people for eight years, we must come together to find solutions to move this country forward," said Poe, per Fox.
"Saying no is easy, leading is hard, but that is what we were elected to do. Leaving this caucus will allow me to be a more effective member of Congress and advocate for the people of Texas. It is time to lead."
On Friday, Poe thanked President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan while expressing his frustration on the new health care bill vote on Twitter.
President Donald Trump also took to Twitter this weekend to blame the Freedom Caucus and other conservative groups stalling the bill.
Reince Priebus, Trump's chief of staff, said on Fox News on Sunday that White House and GOP leadership did all it could to satisfy various Republican factions.
"We can't be chasing the perfect all the time," Priebus said on the program. "I mean, sometimes you have to take the good and put it in your pocket and take the win. And we only have – we have a two-party system in this country. You know, we're not Italy.
"… We have one party, Republican Party, and one Democrat Party. And Republican Party came up with a package the president met with over 120 members of the House. There was more love shown to outside groups by this White House, whether it's Vice President Pence, Mick Mulvaney, Tom Price, Steve Bannon, myself, Mark Short."
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