House Conservatives Return to Their Old Ways

Washington Post: “Since the spring, House Republicans have lived through a relatively calm seven months, a period lacking the drama and infighting that have come to define their majority.”

“That came to an abrupt end Monday night, when members of the Freedom Caucus tried to grind progress on tax legislation to a halt.”

“These hard-right conservatives had no quarrel with the tax plan — they almost all voted for it — but they were looking for a hostage to grab and knew that this one would get everyone’s attention. Their real target is the 2018 spending bill for federal agencies, along with a clutch of other must-pass items that conservatives oppose.”