Jim Jordan says Freedom Caucus will work with Democrats, vows to keep promises made to constituents
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a co-founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he is willing to work with Democrats if they are “willing to do what we told the voters we’d do” on healthcare.
“I’m willing to work with Democrats if they’re willing to do what we told the voters we’d do,” Jordan told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The interview centered on the GOP’s failure to pass a repeal and replace package to Obamacare. Check out the interview below.
Responding to the multiple critical tweets from President Donald Trump since the defeat of the proposal, saying the legislation was both bad policy and massively unpopular.
“Tweets and statements and blame don’t change facts,” Jordan stated.
Trump took to Twitter on Thursday to call out Jordan, the former chairman of the conservative House group, as well as its current leader, Mark Meadows of North Carolina and fellow member Raul Labrador of Idaho over their opposition to the now-defunct GOP plan.
On Saturday, the White House’s social media director, Dan Scavino, also went after another Freedom Caucus member, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, saying Trump’s supporters should drive him out of office in the next primary election.
Amash responded shortly afterward by tweeting that Trump had become like the very political establishment that he campaigned against and the caucus has opposed.
Jordan defended Amash on Sunday and said he would come to his aid in a primary challenge.
“Justin Amash is a good friend and one of the most principled members of Congress,” Jordan said. “And, frankly, if he is primaried, I’m going to do everything I can to help him.”
Republicans needed to get back together on a health care bill that repealed Obamacare, he said, adding that the process needed to be more open next time and include input from interest groups and average citizens.
“Why not actually have doctors come in and testify, maybe hospitals testify, or maybe just some regular American families who this bill’s gonna impact,” Jordan said. “Why not have that kind of process take place?”
Jordan also appeared at the end of Friday’s Mike Gallagher Show, giving a more detailed explanation of the opposition to the recent House plan and its failure to deal with the community mandates. Check out the full audio below.