Spending bill vote shows limits of political brinksmanship for House Freedom Caucus members
When Republicans took control of the House last year with almost the thinnest of majorities, all eyes turned to the House Freedom Caucus. The loose group of 30-some ultraconservative lawmakers outnumbered the narrow vote margin for Republicans and, as a result, were granted new outsized leverage over leadership to cater to their whims. From the start, it appeared the Freedom Caucus and…