The Hill looks at this future for Republicans in Congress….
There is no doubt that their influence will be diluted…..
If Democrats wipe out the House GOP’s majority in this fall’s midterms, they could also severely weaken a group that has repeatedly been a thorn in their side: the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Life in the minority would be uncharted territory for the conservative group, which has wielded immense power in the majority by sticking together as a unified voting bloc and fighting unapologetically for its causes.
Outside the majority, the band of roughly 30 hard-liners would no longer have the same tools to shape the agenda and negotiate deals with their own leadership.
“I don’t think they’ll dissolve and there will be no more Freedom Caucus, but they will lose pretty much all, if not most, of their influence, because you can’t hold Democrats hostage to negotiate the things that you want,” said one GOP strategist.
The strategist suggested Freedom Caucus members would be little more than “talking heads” on cable television.
Lawmakers in the group scoff at such suggestions.
“The Freedom Caucus is strong, and we’re going to keep getting stronger,” said Freedom Caucus Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). “The organization doesn’t exist to use tactics, the organization exists to effectively be the Republican wing of the Republican Party. I think that will continue to be the case if we’re not in the majority.”….