What is the House Freedom Caucus, and who’s in it? House Freedom Caucus: What is it, and who's in it? | Pew Research Center
“Though it represents less than a sixth of House Republicans, by acting as a bloc (decisions agreed to by 80% of the caucus are supposed to be binding on all) and choosing their fights carefully, the Freedom Caucus has certainly made an impact since its formation. The group’s defiance of Speaker John Boehner, over issues such as fast-track trade authority and defunding Planned Parenthood, contributed to Boehner’s decision last month to quit the job. And the group’s decision not to back House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy prompted McCarthy to pull out of the race and positioned the Freedom Caucus as a kingmaker.”
“Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare!”–Donald Trump
“Nonpartisan budget analysts warn that this budget debate could be another major flash point between the GOP establishment and the 30 to 40 conservative House lawmakers known as the House Freedom Caucus. One side desperately wants to show it can govern by passing a spending bill on time; the other demands ideological purity — like a deficit-neutral budget — and isn’t afraid to risk a shutdown over it.”–The Washington Post
The Problem With Deficit-Neutral Tax Reform http://www.cbpp.org/research/the-problem-with-deficit-neutral-tax-reform
Is Trump smart enough to understand the tax system in the U.S.?
Of course, he might be smart enough to avoid paying taxes for himself and his companies.
Donald Trump tweeted:
“The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don’t get on the team, & fast. We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!”
Fight the Freedom Caucus!
The caucus is an ad hoc, informal group within the Republican Party in Congress made up of primarily conservative members of Congress elected via their affiliation with the Tea Party (the Tea Party is really just a movement with the USA of conservative minded individuals). Hope that helps.
Club for Growth and Koch nurtured Freedom Caucus Club for Growth and Koch nurtured Freedom Caucus - POLITICO
"The Club for Growth is a national network of over 100,000 pro-growth, limited government Americans who share in the belief that prosperity and opportunity come from economic freedom. "
“It is well known that the Koch brothers have provided the major source of funding to the Tea Party and want to repeal the Affordable Care Act.”–Bernie Sanders
https://www.sanders.senate.gov/koch-brothers
Bernie Sanders wrote as follows:
In 1980, David Koch ran as the Libertarian Party’s vice-presidential candidate in 1980.
Let’s take a look at the 1980 Libertarian Party platform.
Here are just a few excerpts of the Libertarian Party platform that David Koch ran on in 1980:
“We urge the repeal of federal campaign finance laws, and the immediate abolition of the despotic Federal Election Commission.”
“We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
“We oppose any compulsory insurance or tax-supported plan to provide health services, including those which finance abortion services.”
“We also favor the deregulation of the medical insurance industry.”
“We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary.”
“We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”
“We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes.”
“We support the eventual repeal of all taxation.”
“As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”
“We support repeal of all law which impede the ability of any person to find employment, such as minimum wage laws.”
“We advocate the complete separation of education and State. Government schools lead to the indoctrination of children and interfere with the free choice of individuals. Government ownership, operation, regulation, and subsidy of schools and colleges should be ended.”
“We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws.”
“We support the repeal of all taxes on the income or property of private schools, whether profit or non-profit.”
“We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.”
“We support abolition of the Department of Energy.”
“We call for the dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation, including the Department of Transportation.”
“We demand the return of America’s railroad system to private ownership. We call for the privatization of the public roads and national highway system.”
“We specifically oppose laws requiring an individual to buy or use so-called “self-protection” equipment such as safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets.”
“We advocate the abolition of the Federal Aviation Administration.”
“We advocate the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration.”
“We support an end to all subsidies for child-bearing built into our present laws, including all welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported services for children.”
“We oppose all government welfare, relief projects, and ‘aid to the poor’ programs. All these government programs are privacy-invading, paternalistic, demeaning, and inefficient. The proper source of help for such persons is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.”
“We call for the privatization of the inland waterways, and of the distribution system that brings water to industry, agriculture and households.”
“We call for the repeal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”
“We call for the abolition of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
“We support the repeal of all state usury laws.”
In other words, the agenda of the Koch brothers is not only to defund Obamacare. The agenda of the Koch brothers is to repeal every major piece of legislation that has been signed into law over the past 80 years that has protected the middle class, the elderly, the children, the sick, and the most vulnerable in this country.
It is clear that the Koch brothers and other right wing billionaires are calling the shots and are pulling the strings of the Republican Party.
Do you think that David Koch is a warm-hearted philanthropist?
nope
An excerpt from an article in CBS News reads:
After he [John Boehner] stepped down, Freedom Caucus members circulated a questionnaire revealing what they wanted to see in a new speaker, including a question that was a litmus test for the new speaker: “Would you ensure that the House-passed appropriations bills do not contain funding for Planned Parenthood, unconstitutional amnesty, the Iran deal and ObamaCare?”
Trump’s House Freedom Caucus tweet draws response from conservative members Responses to Trump's House Freedom Caucus Tweet - CBS News
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Trump has no leverage, strategy, or credibility in his fight with the Freedom Caucus: Trump has no leverage, no strategy, and no credibility in his fight with the Freedom Caucus. via @slate
"I think what you can expect is that the Kochs will keep using outside money to lobby against those parts of Trumpism they don’t like, and that’s just what they did with the health care bill. They’re spending all over the country, and they’ve got operations in 35 states. They haven’t gone away, contrary to people’s theories. They’re still active, and their money is still being spent every day."
What do the Koch Brothers really think of Donald Trump? The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer on the billionaires supporting—and opposing—President Trump. via @slate