Despite the gridlock and acrimony of the 2017 Texas legislative session, there was one group who came out as undeniable winners: the 12 member far-right contingent of the Texas House of Representatives known as the Freedom Caucus.
As KUT reports, the group was inspired by the faction in the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as the Freedom Caucus. And just like their national counterparts, the Texas version has managed to shift the debate in the Texas statehouse heavily to the right. The group has one simple goal: to kill any piece of legislation that would raise taxes or expand government in any way.
There’s no question the caucus has been successful, but their hardball tactics have angered many in the capital. One member even made the national news last week, when he called federal customs enforcement on a group of young protesters in the capitol building.