Newly-elected House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris from Maryland is focusing on two key issues for the remainder of the year: government funding and next year’s House GOP Conference rules. Harris, who has been part of the Freedom Caucus since its inception, is committed to battling these issues in order to push forward a conservative agenda. The Maryland Republican, who was chosen to lead the group after Rep. Bob Good vacated the role, is known for not being very talkative with reporters. The Freedom Caucus, which keeps its membership list private, has a history of pushing House GOP leaders to implement more conservative policies.
Harris praised Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership on government funding, as the House prepared to vote on a Freedom Caucus-backed plan to avoid a government shutdown. The plan involves a six-month extension of this year’s federal funds along with a measure requiring proof of citizenship in the voter registration process. While Harris commended Johnson for his work on this issue, the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House have deemed the legislation a nonstarter. Despite some Republican opposition to the measure, Harris did not reveal how conservatives could ensure Johnson sticks by the plan if it fails in the Senate.
Harris urged GOP critics to reconsider their opposition to the bill ahead of the vote, emphasizing the importance of sending a signal to the American people. He highlighted the absurdity of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer rejecting the bill, potentially due to a desire for illegal aliens to vote. Harris did not provide specifics on the changes he would like to see in the House GOP Conference rules, but noted that the issue is expected to be a focal point in the end-of-year leadership elections. Previous changes made by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to lower the threshold for triggering a vote on the speaker’s ouster were mentioned as a starting point for discussions on further changes.
In terms of the upcoming leadership elections, Harris hopes that the Republican majority, which he believes will be achieved, will endorse the changes made in the current term and possibly implement further alterations. However, Harris emphasized that the decisions about potential rule changes are not solely up to him, as there are other members of the Freedom Caucus. As the chairman, he will follow the guidance of the group in determining what changes should be proposed and discussed in the coming months. Harris is committed to working alongside his fellow caucus members to ensure that conservative principles are upheld and that the House GOP remains aligned with their agenda.
